Newfoundland sinking into ocean -- slowly

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ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The island of Newfoundland is sinking in the North Atlantic at a rate of a little over a tenth of an inch a year, a Canadian expert in coastal erosion says.

Although that only amounts to about a foot in 100 years, Memorial University geography Professor Norm Catto says the change is important when serious storms hit the island.

"It means that the coastline is less equipped to resist storm activity or a surge when it actually does occur," Catto told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Parts of eastern Newfoundland's coastline were seriously damaged when Hurricane Igor swept through in September 2010, he noted.

The water level is creeping up at a faster rate on the southern part of the island than in the north, he said.

Dead tree stumps preserved in calm ocean waters cam show how far water has moved over land, he said, with some of the stumps dating back to 340 A.D., the time of the Roman Empire, and all telling the same story.

"If you've got a dock, or a piece of river or ocean property, then yes, the waves are getting closer to you every day."