Subscribe to Receive the Daily Report

Thursday, November 29th, 2012

US Coastal Cities in Danger as Sea Levels Rise Faster Than Expected, Study Warns

Author:     SUZANNE GOLDENBERG
Source:     The Guardian (U.K.)
Publication Date:     Tuesday 27 November 2012 19.01 EST
 Link: US Coastal Cities in Danger as Sea Levels Rise Faster Than Expected, Study Warns
Stephan:   This is the latest on the Sea Level Rise Trend. I first wrote about the effects this trend was going to have on the U.S., and the migrations it will produce in 2009. (See: Migration. http://www.explorejournal.com/article/S1550-8307%2808%2900398-4/fulltext). In looking back at that essay I am struck once again by what has turned out to be the iron rule of climate change: the only thing that has changed since science recognized something was happening has been the collapse of the timeline. The stupidity and bone deep prejudice of the Theocratic Right and other climate deniers is a scandal whose consequences we are just now dimly beginning to appreciate. A century from now, I believe, such views will be perceived as a form of treason against humanity. Over a billion people will be affected around the world, including many millions in the U.S., just as this report spells out.

Sea-level rise is occurring much faster than scientists expected – exposing millions more Americans to the destructive floods produced by future Sandy-like storms, new research suggests.

Satellite measurements over the last two decades found global sea levels rising 60% faster than the computer projections issued only a few years ago by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The faster sea-level rise means the authorities will have to take even more ambitious measures to protect low-lying population centres – such as New York City, Los Angeles or Jacksonville, Florida – or risk exposing millions more people to a destructive combination of storm surges on top of sea-level rise, scientists said.

Scientists earlier this year found sea-level rise had already doubled the annual risk of historic flooding across a widespread area of the United States.

The latest research, published on Wednesday in Environmental Research Letters, found global sea-levels rising at a rate of 3.2mm a year, compared to the best estimates by the IPCC of 2mm a year, or 60% faster.

Researchers used satellite data to measure sea-level rise from 1993-2011. Satellites are much more accurate than tide gauges, the study said.

The scientists said they had ruled out other non-climatic causes for the rise in […]

Read the Full Article