Rosenstiel oceanographer featured in Netflix docuseries

The damage was visible all the way from space-254 miles above the Earth. That's where NASA astronaut Robert Hines, onboard the International Space Station, snapped then tweeted a photo of the shoreline erosion Hurricane Ian had inflicted on Florida's southwest coast. All the water dumped on the region had begun to seep into the Gulf of Mexico, carrying with it massive amounts of soil. Those environmental scars serve as a stark reminder of the risks coastal communities face from storm surges, floods, and sea level rise-all of which, some scientists believe, are worsening with climate change. Now, a team of experts from the University of Miami and elsewhere is partnering on a $20 million National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project that combines coral reef and mangrove restoration initiatives with infrastructure such as seawalls and artificial reef structures to better protect coastal communities from the impacts of a changing climate. "Coastal zones provide vital services to local communities. But unfortunately, they are vulnerable to the consequences of climate,” said Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, assistant professor of civil and architectural engineering, who is the lead investigator of the University of Miami's component of the project, which is called Reducing Climate Risks with Equitable Nature-based Solutions: Engaging Communities on Reef-Lined Coasts.