Global warming will cause sea levels to rise by 30 cm off the coast of the United States

Sea levels off the coast of the United States are expected to rise by an average of 25 to 30 centimeters over the next 30 years, the equivalent of a measured rise over the past 100 years, according to a new US report. This situation varies from region to region, according to the US National Maritime and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which led the report, which involved a total of six agencies, including NASA.

Because of these changes, coastal flooding often occurs, “even in the absence of storms or heavy rainfall,” the NOAA says. Therefore, by 2050, the so-called moderate flood damage will be on average ten times greater than it is today, every 2 to 5 years from one event to several times a year. And “big” floods are five times more likely to occur.

“This new information on sea level rise is the latest confirmation that the climate crisis is a red alert,” Gina McCarthy, the White House’s national climate adviser, was quoted as saying in a statement. “We need to redouble our efforts to reduce greenhouse gases that cause climate change, while at the same time helping coastal communities adapt to rising sea levels,” he added.

The report says that 60 cm of sea level rise off the coast of the United States between 2020 and 2100 is “highly probable” due to emissions released so far. The latter was developed using satellite surveillance, wave measurements and climate models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In detail, sea levels are expected to rise by 25 to 35 cm off the east coast of the United States, 35 to 45 cm off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and 10 to 20 cm off the coast. The previous report on this matter is pre-2017.

“This updated data will guide coastal communities and others and enable them to make better decisions to keep people and property safe for a longer period of time,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad.