Experts Warn Parts of Maine May Soon Be Underwater

Experts are warning that Maine’s coastline could look very different, and sooner rather than later.

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Of course, Maine is often called 'Vacationland,' and for good reason. While many inland areas of our Pine Tree State offer great vacation spots, there’s no doubt that the coast is a major draw for tourists.

If Maine’s coast is affected, tourism could suffer too. And that would absolutely impact our local economy.

Mainers often joke about wanting tourists, or folks 'from away,' to go back where they came from, but deep down, we know how important they are to our state. Tourism is a big part of Maine's economy and, at this point, our identity. Without it, our state would be very different.

And, we want to make this clear, we’re not trying to worry anyone or ring any 'panic alarms,' we’re just acting as the messenger to information that may be crucially important to not only our bottom line but also could impact people’s lives.

The latest reports are that the ocean is warming at a much faster rate than experts previously predicted.

As reported recently in an article from NEWSCenter Maine that discusses the concerning trend of rising ocean temperatures, particularly in the Gulf of Maine, as reported by Dave Reidmiller from the Climate Center at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Reidmiller expressed how surprised he was at the speed and severity of the temperature increases, which have been breaking records consistently over the past year.

Reidmiller emphasized that human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, is driving this trend and that it is 'undeniable.'

When the ocean temperatures rise, it causes the water to expand, which takes up more space and leads to sea-level rise. This would make Maine's coast and coastal towns and cities more vulnerable to flooding and erosion.

As we know, Maine experienced significant damage from coastal storms in December and January that many coastal towns are still recovering from, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation to the changing coastline and rising sea levels.

Reidmiller stressed the importance of preparing for a future where the coastline will be vastly different from what it is now.