How high could sea levels rise by 2100?

Experts predict a 7-foot sea level rise is very likely by 2100, with a 10-foot rise potentially following about 20 years later.

What risks are associated with rising sea levels in the US?

Rising sea levels risk flooding coastal cities, damaging hazard sites, and contaminating drinking water sources.

What is NOAA's projection for US coastal cities?

NOAA maps show a 10-foot sea level rise would submerge many US coastal cities, impacting states from coast to coast.

Home / Environment / Coastal Cities Face Drowning: 10-Foot Sea Rise Looms

Coastal Cities Face Drowning: 10-Foot Sea Rise Looms

14 Dec

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Summary

A 10-foot sea level rise could inundate numerous US coastal cities.
Over 5,500 hazard sites face flooding risk, many by 2050.
Marginalized communities are most vulnerable to rising sea levels.

Coastal Cities Face Drowning: 10-Foot Sea Rise Looms

A dramatic 10-foot rise in sea levels threatens to submerge vast stretches of America's coastline, impacting countless coastal cities. This surge endangers not only urban areas but also over 5,500 sites storing hazardous materials, with many projected to flood by 2050.

These rising waters pose significant risks beyond property damage, including the potential contamination of drinking water sources and the inundation of underground infrastructure like sewage systems. Vulnerable populations, including low-income communities and communities of color, are identified as being at the highest risk.

Experts attribute sea level rise to thermal expansion of seawater and melting glaciers, driven by global warming and increased carbon dioxide emissions. Coastal planners are urged to shift from defensive strategies to managed migration, prioritizing natural buffers and the abandonment of high-risk zones.