Question: Could we stop the rising water levels with dams?

Susan Skelton answered on 17 Nov 2013:

Hi callumh!
I guess you are asking about rising water levels due to global warming?

I think dams have some use to protect cities from a temporary rise in water level, such as a particularly high tide or when the water level rises due to a big storm. The world’s second largest moveable flood barrier is situated in the river Thames and is closed when we need to protect London against these type of short term rises in the water level.

I don’t think that dams are suitable long terms solutions to protect us against the effects of a long term rise in the water level. If the water level continues to rise for a long time, eventually the water will just go around or over the top of the barriers.

I think a much better strategy is for us to choose to change our behaviour to prevent the water levels from rising. If we reduce the amount of pollution that we make and preserve the rainforests, we can preserve the ozone layer which will stop our planet warming up any more. This should stop the melting of the ice in the Arctic and Antarctic which is what causes the water to rise.

Does this answer your question?