Latest news with #seaLevelRise
Forbes
a day ago
- Science
- Forbes
Fossils Suggests Sea Levels Could Rise Even Faster In The Future
Fossil coral exposed in a limestone outcrop above present sea level in the Seychelles. Newly uncovered evidence from fossil corals suggests that sea levels could rise even more steeply in our warming world than previously thought. 'This is not good news for us as we head into the future,' says Andrea Dutton, a professor of geoscience at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dutton and her PhD student Karen Vyverberg at the University of Florida led an international collaboration that included researchers from University of Sydney, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Victoria University of Wellington and University of Massachusetts Amherst who analyzed fossilized corals discovered in the Seychelles islands. Models of future sea level rise generally hover around a meter (3 feet) within the next 100 years, but factors like how much of the ice caps will melt, water temperatures, oceanic currents, tidal range, coastal geomorphology and land subsidence can affect local sea levels. Based on an analysis published by NASA in 2021, global mean sea levels rose by about 20 centimeters (around eight inches) between 1901 and 2018. Fossils provide an opportunity to reconstruct sea level change over a longer time span. The researchers used remnants of coral species that only live in shallows very near the sea surface. Their tropical location also means they were far away from any past ice sheets, which have a more pronounced effect on local sea levels. By determining the ages of two dozen fossil corals from various elevations on the islands and analyzing the sediments around the fossils, the team reconstructed the relationship between global climate and sea levels between 122,000 and 123,000 years ago. That was during a period known as the Eemian Interglacial, when global temperatures were actually very similar to what they are now. Perhaps more importantly, the researchers noted that sea levels didn't rise at a constant rate, but there were periods of stagnation followed by abrupt pulses. Likely the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica — thousands of kilometers away from the Seychelles islands — didn't melt simultaneously as it is happening today. 'These swings suggest that the polar ice sheets were growing and shrinking out of phase with each other as a result of temperature changes in the two hemispheres that were also not aligned,' explains Dutton. At the beginning of the Eemian, sea levels rose over 6,000 years leading up to a peak that was 5 to 7 meters (16 to 23 feet) higher globally than it is today. Such high levels are unlikely in the near future, however, today's sea level rise could happen much faster. 'So even though sea level rose at least several meters higher than present during this past warm period, if temperature rises simultaneously in both hemispheres as it is today, then we can expect future sea level rise to be even greater than it was back then.' 'This is hugely important for coastal planners, policy makers and those in the business of risk management,' concludes Dutton. Over 600 million people (around 10 percent of the world's population) live in coastal areas that are less than 10 meters (32 feet) above sea level. Rising sea levels not only will displace an estimated 267 million people worldwide, but contaminate groundwater, increase the risk for floods, cause beach erosion and habitat loss for animals and plants living on or near the shoreline. The study,"Episodic reef growth in the Last Interglacial driven by competing influence of polar ice sheets to sea-level rise," was published in the journal Science Advances. Additional material and interviews provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
The elite island that has residents living in fear as sea levels predicted to rise by a FOOT in next 30 years
On one of the wealthiest and most picturesque islands in America, fear is rising as fast as the Atlantic tide. According to the latest projections by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea levels around Nantucket are expected to rise by more than a foot by 2055 - a threat that experts say could drastically reshape the island's future. The estimate comes from NOAA's 'high sea level' scenario, adopted by the Town of Nantucket, which forecasts sea level rise of 1.15 feet as soon as 2040 and more than 2 feet by 2060, according to the Town and County of Nantucket. Long known as an elite summer destination with multimillion-dollar waterfront homes, Nantucket now finds itself at the forefront of coastal climate risk. Some of the island's most iconic areas, including the historic downtown, are already showing signs of strain. Flooding that once occurred just a few times a year now inundates places like the island's beloved Easy Street nearly every month. Milan Basnet, owner of the Easy Street Restaurant, said the flooded streets negatively affect his business. 'Last month it rained heavily twice, none of it actually affected the restaurant, but when the water is that high, people can't walk or cross the street and are less likely to come in to eat,' he told the High tide flooding events have increased from an average of six per year in the 1960s, to an average of 37 times in 2020 and eventually moved to a record-setting 75 times in 2023. Some of the island's most iconic areas, including the historic downtown, are already showing signs of strain. Flooding that once occurred just a few times a year now inundates places like Easy Street (pictured) nearly every month In response, the town, which is home to about 14,000 year-round residents, adopted a Coastal Resilience Plan in 2021, which identified four major concerns - groundwater table rise, coastal flooding, high tide flooding and coastal erosion. The timely report also outlines a series of projects ranging from nature-based shoreline defenses to costly infrastructure retrofits designed to help mitigate the ongoing crisis. More than 2,300 buildings - many of them historical and residential properties - have been identified as vulnerable to flooding or erosion by 2070, according to the assessment. The projected damages have the potential to cause upwards of $3.4billion in damages if no adaptation measures are taken, Leah Hill, the town's coastal resilience advisory coordinator, told Inside Climate News. The resilience plan is simple in theory, but challenging in execution, given the island's mix, Hill said. The multi-pronged plan is based on three strategies. 'Protect (keep water out), adapt (live with water), retreat (move away from water),' according to Hill. 'Depending on which critical infrastructure is at risk depends on which strategy is recommended.' Hill added that the coastal resilience plan will assess risks every five to 10 years. The plan has identified over 40 proposed projects over the next 15 years at a hefty cost of $930million. So far, the picturesque island has committed $14million for coastal resilience projects including planning, design and implementation. In some more coastal areas on the island, residents have already begun to elevate homes and retrofit buildings in an attempt to stay ahead of the water. On Sheep Pond Road, erosion has forced some property owners to relocate their homes inland by hundreds of feet, and in some cases houses have even had to be demolished. Since 2014, seven structures along Sheep Pond Road have been demolished due to erosion, the Nantucket Current reported. The challenge, town officials say, lies in balancing preservation with preparedness. 'It's not like we create the coastal resilience plan, and then we follow it, and we're done,' Sarah Bois, Director of Research and Education, at The Linda Loring Nature Foundation, said. 'It's because the change is continuous, and we can't anticipate all the different ways that the community is going to be impacted. It is something that we have to kind of revisit and think about and adapt as it goes along.' Bois, who works for the nonprofit which operates from a wildlife preserve created over decades, added that to 'better handle' rising waters and continued onslaughts of rain, they are pursuing protections for homeowners, businesses and tourist trade. The protections will modify the landscape and natural spaces to better suit the influx of stormwater, she told Inside Climate News, adding that pipes that carry stormwater are being assessed and patched this spring. Other Nantucket improvements include bioswales - plant-filled channels that absorb runoff - are part of several projects, and at Polpis Harbor, recycled oyster shells are being used to rebuild a salt marsh and support local bird habitats. For now, Nantucket is pushing forward with its resilience planning, buoyed by state and federal support and an increasingly engaged local community. But with the sea continuing to rise and climate projections growing more dire, the island's future remains on unstable ground.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
New map reveals US cities and landmarks set to disappear by 2050
A new interactive map is painting a grim picture for America's coastal cities, with many projected to be underwater by 2050 . Climate Central, an independent organization of scientists, has been developing a new Coastal Risk Screening Tool to predict how sea level rise and coastal flooding will reshape the US each decade. The latest update revealed that several major cities in Louisiana , Georgia, Florida and New York will sink below annual flood levels, threatening thousands of people who may find their homes underwater within the next 30 years. The Florida Everglades and the island that the Statue of Liberty sits on in New York are both predicted to be underwater in 25 years. Countless wildlife conservation parks throughout the US are also expected to sink, and beachfront communities along the Gulf and East Coast will likely shrink as sea levels wash away the coastline. The new map also allows users to look at the best and worst case scenarios based on major flood predictions and pollution's impact on the climate, according to data from a 2021 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Long Island, Atlantic City, New Orleans and San Jose are all in the US danger zone even in the most conservative estimates by Climate Central. Here are several of the major cities that could submerge under rising sea levels by 2050. New Orleans, Louisiana The iconic Gulf Coast city has been in the crosshairs of climate alarmists for decades. The new map revealed that New Orleans, home to more than 360,000 people, will likely see the entire city sitting below the annual flood level. This means that, based on Climate Central's sea level rise projections and coastal elevation models, the city is expected to sink below the elevation at which flooding is likely to occur at least once per year. Simply put, even a normal flood in a year without extreme storms will submerge the whole city since nothing will be left above sea level in 2050. Cape Coral, Florida This southwestern Florida city is known for its many canals, but this also makes it one of the major projected victims of climate change-related sea level rise. Climate Central's map predicts that, by 2050, all of the local waterways that line the streets will rise up and erode much of the waterfront property these Floridians enjoy. Cape Coral is home to more than 220,000 people. Its low-lying areas are at high risk of being below annual flood level in 2050, even under moderate climate emissions scenarios projected by Climate Central. The city has also been struck by multiple hurricanes in recent years, including Hurricane Helene in 2024 and Hurricane Irma in 2017. Savannah, Georgia Charleston, South Carolina Charleston has become a major tourism hub over the years, but the new map predicts that much of the historic city's well-preserved architecture will sink into dangerous flood zones within three decades. Charleston faces regular flooding from storm surges, heavy rain and king tides - exceptionally high tides that occur when the gravitational forces of the moon and sun align. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo caused $2.8 billion in damage, and recent storms like Matthew and Irma brought significant flooding as well. Sitting on a peninsula in South Carolina, the 2050 forecast projects that Charleston will see a sea level rise that floods areas along all three edges of the city. Atlantic City, New Jersey East Rutherford, New Jersey Speaking of New Jersey, even some more inland locations are at risk of severe sinking and flooding over the next 25 years. Located along the Hackensack River and less than 10 miles from New York City, East Rutherford has become known for two major attractions: the American Dream Mall and MetLife Stadium. Both venues sit on the Meadowlands, a large ecosystem of wetlands, marshes and tidal areas in northern New Jersey. According to the 2050 projections from Climate Central, that means the NFL's New York Jets and New York Giants will see their stadium sitting underwater within 30 years as the entire area is expected to fall under the annual flood level. Long Island, New York Although Long Island is so big that it has over a dozen cities and towns scattered across two counties, the entire coastline of this major New York landmass could be washed away by 2050. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast, causing widespread flooding throughout Long Island with damages surpassing $20 billion. In the latest projections for 2050, almost all of the small landmasses connecting the island's many vacation spots - including Fire Island and Jones Beach - will be underwater. Home to nearly 3 million people, coastal communities in Long Island's Babylon, Lindenhurst, Amityville, Massapequa, Freeport and Oceanside will also be affected by the rising sea levels eroding local beaches and beachfront property. San Jose, California On the West Coast, Climate Central's interactive map actually predicted little to no sea level rise and flooding throughout California. One area that did not escape the projected impact of climate change, however, was San Jose, which sits at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay. The 2050 projection warns that San Jose's Bayfront areas will be at risk of submerging in a flood. That includes the area around Levi's Stadium, home of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. While Climate Central's forecast was kind to most of California, other recent studies have not been. Researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) revealed that Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Alameda are all among the coastal cities that have seen their local sea levels rise since 2018. Rising sea levels and continued land erosion threaten to exacerbate flooding and subsidence (sinking of the ground) in these areas. Their new data showed that San Diego is experiencing the highest amount of sea level rise along the entire West Coast, rising 2.6 millimeters a year. By 2050, all four of these cities are predicted to see their local sea levels rise several inches above the projected average for that year.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
New map reveals all the iconic US cities and landmarks set to DISAPPEAR by 2050
A new interactive map is painting a grim picture for America's coastal cities, with many projected to be underwater by 2050. Climate Central, an independent organization of scientists, has been developing a new Coastal Risk Screening Tool to predict how sea level rise and coastal flooding will reshape the US each decade.
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Science
- LBCI
Greenland ice melted much faster than average in May heatwave, scientists say
Greenland's ice sheet melted 17 times faster than the historic average during a May heatwave that also hit Iceland, the scientific network World Weather Attribution (WWA) said in a report Wednesday. "The melting rate of the Greenland ice sheet by, from a preliminary analysis, a factor of 17... means the Greenland ice sheet contribution to sea level rise is higher than it would have otherwise been without this heatwave," one of the authors of the report, Friederike Otto, told reporters, adding that "without climate change, this would have been impossible". AFP
