Florida And Climate Change

Laura Stieghorst, who graduated from the University of Miami in December, used the money to found a carbon capture research startup called Básico.

The Indian River Lagoon saw a brief respite from massive algal blooms this year. But heavy rains from Hurricane Ian led to wastewater spills and stormwater outflows in yet another setback to water quality. Even so, natural resource managers say the lagoon's restoration is still attainable.

A large, slow-moving Category 4 storm like Hurricane Ian would push a catastrophic surge across much of coastal Miami-Dade many times worse — and extending much farther inland — than Irma did in 2017.

Southwest Florida has already answered the immediate question after Hurricane Ian slammed into the coast, killing dozens of people and destroying thousands of homes with record-high storm surge: Will we rebuild?

Charlie Crist tried to wean the state from fossil fuels while serving as governor from 2007-11. Now he is running as a Democrat against Ron DeSantis, a potential front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024.

As federal agencies and local governments reassess flood zones and incorporate new technology, data on sea-level rise and the fact that the concrete jungle doesn’t absorb as much water as the natural environment, they’ve concluded that vast swaths of South Florida — particularly inland areas — are vulnerable to crippling storm surge and flooding from rain.

"As we increase the temperature of the atmosphere... the air that is all around us can hold more water," said Daniel Gilford of Climate Central. "There's been about a 10% increase in atmospheric moisture and rainfall associated with Hurricane Ian."

Dalton Hesley led a dive team to an offshore Miami Beach reef last month in pursuit of sea urchins. Something else drew his attention instead. A cluster of staghorn corals, their branches reaching toward the surface, appeared a ghastly white.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has touted a record amount of spending to help his state prepare for the effects of climate change. But his policy on that front is coming under scrutiny by many residents still reeling from Hurricane Ian.

Two young Tribal members share their thoughts on what they learned about Seminole history and their experiences on the island.

Since its first survey in 1877, Egmont Key has lost more than half of its land mass. While some worry that losing the island would be an incalculable loss to Gulf Coast Florida’s cultural heritage and ecological resources, others believe the best way to manage the island is to let nature run its course.

It’s a question that follows any natural disaster, especially monster hurricanes like Ian: Was this caused by climate change?