Interesting (and sad) article from YAHOO Travel...

[Kahuna3]

. . . . But the trend, I still maintain, is disturbing.

. . . I'm only hoping that people come to understand that something IS going on, that there is evidence to support that there is something going on.

What trend? What is going on? What is the evidence? You've just seen empirical evidence to the contrary.

My first visit to Negril was in 1976. I walked the whole beach. I still walk the whole beach. I don't see any 'disturbing trend'. I've seen the sands go and then come back. If the waves and the wind are right, the sand gets pulled into the sea and settles off shore a little way out. Then the sea action brings it back in. Sometimes it shifts north, sometimes it shifts south. When the sand 'goes away', it doesn't evaporate, it's just off shore.

If there was a direct hit by a Cat 5 hurricane - then you would have something to worry about, but even then, over time, the beach would likely come back. I know, many people would believe 'we' caused the hurricane. I heard a guy on the radio the other day saying that humans caused earthquakes.

Why do people need to believe that 'we are destroying the planet'? What does that mean anyway? This planet will be here for another 4 billion years - until the sun goes supernova. Then it will be destroyed. We, on the other hand, will have disappeared several billions of years before that happens. We might not even be around for another 2,000 years. Given our current technology, we couldn't 'destroy' this planet - even if we wanted to.

So, chill out people, stop proselytizing. Have a Red Stripe, stop worrying, take a walk on the beach. Enjoy life.

[Chris B]

Kahuna, only because you asked..... I'm really not trying to get into a p'ing match here. Like I said, I gave up on that long ago. As for where the evidence is, as well as the trend, the paper I referenced gives quite good data (good as in empirical) using satellite and flyover imagery overlaid on circa 2001 photos. It depicts the data very clearly for ease of understanding. And you're tight... the sand isn't "going anywhere"... its just being moved around and covered by the warm, crystal blue waters of the Caribbean. Take a look at the link if you want to see it... or don't... I don't really care.

I, too, and many of us here have also seen the sands go, and then wash up again... that's the dynamic of the beach. But again, the paper shows that over about 40 years (the study was published in 2012), since 1971, in the study area, the sand is doing more going out than coming in. Rob's beautiful photographs capture two moments in time some 14 years apart, from the same vantage point. And that's wonderful for anyone who was there around those particular times... money well spent, I'd say!

Not proselytizing, either. I'm only expressing my concerns relative to the OP's link, and noting that our enjoyment of the beach and our standard of living do have consequences. I'm sorry that the information doesn't jive with our hopes and wishes... but pointing to momentary ideals and extremes will not change the real data.

As for me, I WILL chill, I WILL have plenty of Stripes, I WILL walk the beach in whatever state it is come April. And I WILL, and normally do, enjoy life. But sorry... I won't stop worrying.

[walter]

I hope, we are not trying to discuss with people, who claim that a melting Arctic ice [it is a floating ice, mind you] is going to raise level of oceans...

[Kahuna3]

I'm sorry that the information doesn't jive with our hopes and wishes... but pointing to momentary ideals and extremes will not change the real data.

My point exactly.