The photo challenge at Photo Friday this week is to represent “downward” visually. And here we have a dredger at Virginia Beach moving sand around to fix a couple of things. First, it is located in Rudee’s Inlet as it removes the sand that would eventually prevent boats from getting in and out of the bay. It sucks up sand much as I used to suck up to my college professors in order to navigate the corridors of higher learning. Then it sends the sand back down the beach where erosion will eventually destroy the boardwalk and the buildings if you let it happen. Much of the sea water is simply returned to the ocean in the process we see in this photo.

Sea water going downward.

All of this, of course, is much like doing something to relieve oneself into the wind as sea levels are rising at an increasing rate. We can see this happening here at home in the Chesapeake Bay where communities are no longer habitable in some places. Here’s a short video describing the rate of sea level change.

 

But let’s not get too disturbed about that! Here’s another video with a charming soundtrack demonstrating how land mass around the world will change in the event sea levels rise to a certain level. I want to thank the person(s) who made this video for not dwelling on sea rise in the U.S, in general, and particularly on the east coast, say, around Virginia Beach. Although, it is clear we are all F’ed if the oceans rise 80 meters.

 

 
 
How did I get from a photo meme about “downward” to drowning while I’m getting a sun tan a good distance from the surf? No idea. But it does seem like a good thing to keep in mind as we go down the road.