"Sea level rise poses a significant threat to low-lying coastal areas and coastal communities. So where can we expect to see these drastic changes and what countries are most at risk? What Countries Are Most at Risk? Rising sea levels can contribute to more devastating storm surges during powerful hurricanes and typhoons-many of which we have seen across coastal regions. In fact, the effects of rising sea levels have already been seen. This means if action is not taken, the world could look very different in just a few decades' time. "Even if we stop global warming by cutting emissions to net zero, sea levels continue to rise for centuries."Ī stock image illustration showing the Statue of Liberty in New York underwater iStock / Getty ImagesĮven a small rise in sea levels has the potential to devastate certain regions. But generally this is expected to increase and we could get up to about 2 feet by 2100, but sooner or later we will get to 2 feet and more," Kevin Trenberth, a distinguished scholar at the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, told Newsweek. Current rates globally are 4 millimeters/year which in a century is 40 centimeters, or about 16 inches. "Sea level rise is best thought of as sooner or later. And scientists fear that it could get out of hand if the effects of climate change are not mitigated immediately. The scary thing? This is all happening at an alarming rate. Also, as the world warms, glaciers and ice sheets are melting, feeding into the world's oceans. The ocean is absorbing more than 90 percent of greenhouse gases being pumped into the atmosphere. Rising sea levels are perhaps the most severe consequence emerging from the ongoing climate crisis.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |