ASA in the News

 Surfing Magazine - The Green Issue - October 2006

by Nick Carroll (Global Editor, Surfing Magazine)

ASA Creates Sea-Level Rise Images of World-Class Surf Spots for Surfing Magazine

Coming off its recent feature in Vanity Fair's exclusive Green Issue, ASA does it again for Surfing Magazine with before-and-after renderings of three of the world's best surfing beaches influenced by a forecasted 16-foot sea-level rise.

THE CHANGE
"It's destined to be the century's biggest single influence on our sport, if not on humanity at large."

Nick Carroll of Surfing Magazine examines the staggering potential of climate change with help from ASA.

Photos Courtesy of Surfing Magazine

For many surfers the feature article by Nick Carroll, for Surfing Magazine's Green themed issue, will be the eye opener that they may have needed to adopt the Green Movement's cause.

The piece begins by simply pointing out the coastal future that surfers, and indeed all of earth's inhabitants face. "This is the coastal future our kids' kids will face. We're on the brink of the biggest change in the entire history of surfing--a turning of the earth's climatic screw that'll put layers of ocean in places we've never seen," Carroll begins.

Nick Carroll, Surfing's global editor, thoroughly researched climate change and global warming for his feature and the science that he's analyzed, convinced him, "IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING."

The author goes on to poignantly persuade his fellow surfers of the science that could prove catastrophic for the growing sport. An enormous aid to Nick Carroll's conviction and perhaps what will ultimately resonate most effectively to this young, next-generation audience is the collection of full-page images of three of the world's most prime surf breaks. The images are before-and-after renderings done by marine science modeling experts at Applied Science Associates Inc., also-known-as, ASA, based in Narragansett, Rhode Island. ASA develops computer models which simulate physical, chemical, and biological processes which solve environmental problems and make precise scientific forecasts.

Evan Slater, Surfing Magazine's editor in chief, put in a phone call directly to ASA's Kelly Knee, after seeing the American cities flood modeling done by her for ASA that was featured in Vanity Fair's Green Issue which premiered in June.

"Both Vanity Fair and Surfing's cover stories mentioned the phrase "Green is the new black," and increasingly environmental consultancies like ours (ASA) are in demand for the cutting-edge, science-based forecasting tools that we provide," explains Kelly Knee who managed the flooding projects and is an Environmental Engineer for the firm.

The powerful visuals in the feature highlighted three world-class surf spots. The article begins with a two-page spread of the beach/point break named "Superbank" located in Queensland, Australia's Gold Coast. Regarded as one of the best all-around surfing waves on the planet, the actual photo (the "before the Change" image) on the left-page spread clearly shows row after row of long, clean, peeling waves coming in at an ideal angle along a wide sandy beach. The "after" image is an interpretation of a 16-foot sea-level rise, and shows the ocean frothing at the base of the city's tall buildings and high-rise hotels. A sea-level rise of at least 16 feet is what several in the scientific community predict by year 2100. Sadly to most surfers, in addition to submerged roads and city streets, no clean breaking waves can be seen in this photo-realistic image.

Photos Courtesy of Surfing Magazine

The next coastal rendering provided, is Florida's Sebastian Inlet. This is the surf spot that seven-time world champion and now celebrity, Kelly Slater grew up surfing. Again, before-and-after shots of waves entering the coastal inlet are drastically morphed by the anticipated sea-level rise. Surfers, like ocean scientists, will be the first to know that the key to all great river mouth or inlet surf spots is the sediment flow from the riverbeds and arroyos.

The third and final rendering is also a two-page spread and before-and-after model of California's "Trestles" which is part of a pristine state park and wildlife area. The graphical rendering of ASA's model predictions depicts Trestles so far underwater that the new waves lap right up against the main highway in place of any assemblance of beach.

The harsh environmental forecasts that this special issue of Surfing Magazine presents may be varyingly received by its mostly juvenile and carefree audience, but one thing is for certain, surfers young and old have always been protective of their lifeblood…their waves. Seeing those precious surf spots disappear as modeled by Applied Science Associates in vivid display on the pages of their monthly bible will certainly command some attention among these dedicated warriors.

For the complete article, The Change, in Surfing Magazine visit surfingthemag.com/oct06.