40 percent of the population lives along or near coastal areas in the U.S. In 2019, nearly every measurement station along U.S. coastlines showed an acceleration in sea-level rise. This information is according to researchers and analysts at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. (VIMS)
John Boon, a Virginia Institute of Marine Science professor talked about the reports message:
[This] is a clear trend toward [an] acceleration in rates of sea-level rise at 25 of our 32 tide-gauge stations. Acceleration can be a game-changer in terms of impacts and planning, so we really need to pay heed to these patterns.
The most rapid acceleration is happening along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Texas. The entire east coast showed acceleration, the only exceptions were in Alaska and 2 locations along the west coast of the U.S.
Grand Island, LA doubled the global average at nearly a 7.93-millimeter increase. This report is based on 51 years of water level observations, from January 1969 to December 2019.
These 25 sites showed an acceleration during just a single year from 2018-2019. Scientists say part of this is due to the landmass slowly sinking, but the acceleration increased around 2013-2014 according to the researchers at VIMS. They attribute this to the melting of polar ice sheets, large glaciers and thermal expansion caused by human-induced global warming.
Molly Mitchell is a Marine Scientist at VIMS who talks about the rapidly accelerating tides:
We have increasing evidence from the tide-gauge records that these higher sea-level curves need to be seriously considered in resilience-planning efforts. Although sea level has been rising very slowly along the west coast, models have been predicting that it will start to rise faster. The report cards from the past three years support this idea, we may be moving towards the higher projections.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also warned that global sea levels are likely to rise at least one foot above 2000 levels.
“On future pathways with the highest greenhouse gas emissions, sea-level rise could be as high as 8.2 feet above 2000 levels by 2100,” exclaimed the NOAA.
Cities such as Miami Beach, Galveston, TX, and Atlantic City, NJ topped the list for being most at risk due to the large populations that live close to the shore.
The warnings by these organizations and scientists showed be taken seriously. The effects of the global climate crisis and climate change are being felt around the world. From the fires to the droughts and flooding. As the sea levels continue to rise, the storms are going to be more severe along with the damage they will cause.
