Puerto Rico was lucky when Hurricane Luis veered north of it in early September. The next big storm, however, is just a matter of time, and it will spell trouble for the island’s valuable coastal property. People develop the shore in quiet times, ignoring the slow rise of global sea level that makes each new storm potentially more devastating than the last. In Living with the Puerto Rico Shore (David M. Bush et al, Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, £16.95/$17.95, ISBN 0 8223 1590 4), five geologists explain coastal dynamics and shoreline protection, then map the risky parts of Puerto Rico. Like the other 16 books in this series, it’s a handbook for those concerned with a specific coast, rich in local details.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Orangutan mothers seem to plan playdates for their offspring
2
A volcano has erupted remnants of Earth's primordial magma ocean
3
A type of fibre that stimulates GLP-1 release approved for use in food
4
Random wobbles in time could finally solve gravity’s greatest mystery
5
Babies are born with the neural foundations for maths
6
The world's fastest spider tops 3.5 metres per second
7
Humans sleep the least of all apes – is it the secret to our success?
8
How some people's brains make an extraordinary recovery from stroke
9
June heatwave may have killed around 20,000 people in Europe
10
US government wants to have a useful quantum computer by 2028
