Chat:

Jorge Codignotto: : MGood afternoon, my name is Jorge Codignotto. I am a geologist and specialist in sea level rie and coastal zone area research.

Osvaldo Canziani: Mr. Codignotto, does one of the impacts of climate change link the oceans to global warming? Could you give a quick explanation of the causes of Sea Level Rise (SLR)?

Vivianco: Hello Mr Codignotto, what are the latest predictions on sea level rise?

Jorge Codignotto: To begin with, there will be ice melt in mountain areas. In some Patagonian coastal areas, especially in semi protected areas in the region; erosion is increasingly seen. Although this may be subjective, throughout the Argentine coastal area (about 7,500 kilometers long) in open sea coastal areas, especially accretion areas, there are no biogenic deposits less than 400 years old. The question is, has there really not been accretion for 400 years or, is the accretion taking place with what has already been deposited?

Osvaldo Canziani: Thank you for the reference to ice and snow melt as one of the causes of SLR. But, what is the contribution of mere thermal ocean expansion as compared with ice melt?

Jorge Codignotto: The contribution is really significant. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to quantify it.

Osvaldo Canziani: What are the expectations given sea level rise in the region of 50 cm and 95 cm along some of the Latin American coastlines?

Jorge Codignotto: Generally speaking, the western Latin American coast will not suffer important impacts.

Osvaldo Canziani: May I comment on the different impacts SLR may cause? Would you agree, Mr. Codignotto, that the flooding of low-lying coastal areas and small island states would have a host of social, economic and even cultural impacts and could you comment on this?

Jorge Codignotto: One of the most important impacts would be the loss of aquifers in coastal areas. There is also possible pollution due to the relocation of waste deposits lying in coastal areas. Additionally, tourist attraction areas will be lost. All of this will greatly affect the economic situation.

Osvaldo Canziani: Could you provide information on the way saline intrusion might affect the water supply of communities in the coastal zone of the River Plate?

Jorge Codignotto: Given the sea level rise, coastal areas relating to the basin of the Rio de la Plata will suffer saline intrusion in the adjoining aquifers. Moreover, waste pipes will lose efficiency. Hydrostatic pressure will increase the flooding of low sea level areas such as basements, low lying areas, underground constructions, etc. On the other hand, the effect of excessively strong southeastern winds could increase exponentially. The development of urban coasts should have been handled more efficiently. Problems could arise with waste emissions in times of storms -e specially in the southeast.

Osvaldo Canziani: In addition to critical problems which may arise from flooding, can you explain other impacts of SLR and rise in sea surface temperatures for us.

Jorge Codignotto: Strong coastal erosion phenomena could take place. Stream or water flow mounts would be relocated. Also, the dynamics of the delta will change. And would increase from the current rate of approximately 70 meters per year to who knows how much?

Osvaldo Canziani: The city of Buenos Aires has already experienced a number of flooding events, Do you consider SLR would increase the probability of such events?

Jorge Codignotto: Yes, I think it would.

Osvaldo Canziani: Mr. Codignotto, which would be the ADDITIONAL impacts of sea level rise? I refer to the development of mangroves and other coastline systems, as well as the availability of food for schools of fish. Could you tell us of on the impact of sea level rise and/or increased sea temperatures on fishing and fish varieties.

Jorge Codignotto: Some coastal areas would see their ecological patterns changed. Clear water areas would be substituted with dirty water areas. This would directly affect their fauna and flora, which would have an impact on the fishery industry, which in turn would directly affect production.

Vivianco: Could you paint us a picture of Buenos Aires after a 50cm rise, would we be under water here at the conference?

Osvaldo Canziani: Let me say that Buenos Aires and the COP4 site would be not underwater because of the elevation of its coastline. However, over a longer period of time the climatological models are predicting such sea level rise, and in this situation the conditions for run off following heavy precipitation would be even more difficult than before, with net consequences in the flooding conditions. Before closing, I would like to remark that The IPCC Second Assessment Report has made clear that sea level rise would definitely have the effects Dr Codignotto has described, affecting the flora and fauna in coastal areas with a net impact on fishing and also on fish reproduction.