Rising sea levels are threatening iconic Alcatraz Island and now a groundbreaking endeavor is helping scientists develop strategies to protect it, along with tracking the effects of climate change on San Francisco Bay.Alcatraz has a significant history: it was a Civil War fort, a military prison, as well as the notorious federal penitentiary where Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and Robert Stroud -- known as the Birdman of Alcatraz -- all did time.
In December 2023, Kelsey and his team camped out for three weeks on the island and slept in D-block, where prison authorities kept the most dangerous inmates. The setup meant no cushy mattresses, showers, or heat. They used communal toilets and brought in food. Researchers had to do their work early in the morning before the tourist boats arrived. They had to avoid flying drones when birds were nesting on the island.