Speculation on the role of sea-level rise in the tragic collapse of the Surfside condominium (Miami Beach, Florida USA) was a bellwether moment for coastal zone management practitioners

The tragic collapse of the Surfside condominium was a bellwether moment in coastal zone management because it forever changed the way we think about risk and vulnerability of the built and human environment. Shortly afterwards, questions emerged regarding whether the structural integrity of the building was compromised by a rise in sea level caused by climate change. Historical trends in the elevation of sea-level, King Tides, and hurricane storm surge quantified between 1994 and 2020 reveal the number of times sea level rose to elevations above the building's basement floor increased from an average of 244 per year between 1994 and 2006 to 636 from 2007 to 2020. This is attributed to a 3-fold increase in the rate of relative sea-level rise that occurred after 2006. Conditions of increasing soil saturation caused by rising seas is likely on most other barrier islands. It follows the context in which we think about managing climate change in the coastal zone must be expanded to consider existing and future below-ground conditions, which to date has largely been overlooked by coastal zone management practitioners.

Automated summary

The tragic collapse of the Surfside condominium in South Florida marked a turning point in coastal zone management, leading to questions about how sea level rise may have compromised the building's structural integrity. Historical trends show an increase in the frequency of sea level rising above the building's basement floor, attributed to a three-fold rise in relative sea level after 2006. The implications of rising sea levels on soil saturation on barrier islands underscores the need to expand considerations of below-ground conditions in managing climate change in coastal areas.