From Vox.

They’ve kept London safe from floods since the ’80s. But there’s a problem.

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For most of the 20th century, Londoners along the Thames River faced a high risk of floods. Storms like the 1953 North Sea Storm resulted in the deaths of hundreds and the displacement of thousands of people, and spurred discussions on how to protect London from future disasters.

By the 1980s, engineers introduced a solution: the Thames Barrier. This impressive structure comprises multiple moving metal gates that can halt water flow during potential flood events. Since its creation, London has successfully avoided costly storm-related death and destruction, inspiring other coastal cities to model their defense systems after the Thames Barrier.

But today’s changing climate and rising sea levels are challenging the integrity of London’s anti-flood walls. From 1980 to 1990, the barrier was closed only four times; from 2010 to 2020, the barrier was closed 50 times. It was never designed for such frequent use.

In response to evolving weather patterns, the UK government created the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan, a future-looking plan that monitors and adapts the metal gates in response to tide data. With each decade, the plan outlines potential upgrades to the existing barrier and the construction of additional flood defenses. The plan hopes to futureproof London, but whether or not the Thames Barrier will stand the test of time will also depend on how climate change reshapes the world.

Learn more about the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan (TE2100):

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/thames-estuary-2100-te2100
Read more about why the Thames Barrier is due for an upgrade:
https://www.ft.com/content/027a0d94-90f6-4841-94c1-b974ac895adb

Read more about the imminent risks to the flood defense walls:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/30/before-the-flood-how-much-longer-will-the-thames-barrier-protect-london
Dive into the data about Thames Barrier closures:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-thames-barrier

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