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Rising Sea Could Sink Parts of 180 US Cities by 2100

Miami, New Orleans among most endangered

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 17, 2011 6:09 AM CST

(Newser) – By the end of the century, 180 coastal US cities could be partially submerged thanks to rising seas, finds a new study that looked at cities in the Lower 48 with populations of at least 50,000. The climbing sea poses a risk to, on average, 9% of the land in these cities. Those most in jeopardy? Cities that hug the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico: Miami, Tampa, New Orleans, and Virginia Beach. New York City, Washington, DC, and the San Francisco Bay area could face more minor damage, Reuters reports.

Threats range from erosion to a permanent influx of water, said a researcher: Miami, a relatively flat city, has "to worry about the issue in all directions," he explained, while New York, whose land rises quickly away from the coast, can focus any preventative efforts on its shoreline. The study was based on US Geological Survey data and projections of a 3-foot rise in sea levels.

Miami faces a threat from rising seas. (Shutterstock)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 63 comments

Feces1

Feb 17, 2011 12:28 PM CST

The writer of the article should feel proud that someone in one hundred years will get a good laugh out of his work.

RidersOnTheStorm

Feb 17, 2011 10:45 AM CST

Last year, concerned with rising sea levels, Al Bore funded this beach-front monitoring station in CA to the tune of nearly $9 million: http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2010/05/exclusive-estimate-carbon-footprint-of.html it comes equipped with swimming pool, spa, fountains,6 fireplaces, 5 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. Yep, someone so full of AGW Bullsh*t needs a lot of toilets. To see what our dear leader [the people will believe our BS if we keep trying to scare 'em with nons(ci)ence every other week] actually thinks of us: http://libertyledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/goreidiots.jpg

dungbeetle

Feb 17, 2011 10:36 AM CST

What fools these mortals be! (read DLY and ilk.) Well, if they're right and nothing happens then my great, great grandchildren will be pleased. But, if not, well maybe we'll pull our heads from the sand and act like we actually have good sense. One nice thing, DLY won't be around to defecate on everyone. Just predictin' . . .

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climate change • environment • New York City • New Orleans • global warming • Miami • Tampa • San Francisco Bay • scientific study • Washington, DC • Virginia Beach • sea levels

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Rising Sea Could Sink Parts of 180 US Cities by 2100

Miami, New Orleans among most endangered

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

climate change • environment • New York City • New Orleans • global warming • Miami • Tampa • San Francisco Bay • scientific study • Washington, DC • Virginia Beach • sea levels

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Farmers already hit by hurricanes, new rainfall patterns

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Multimedia presentation will cross 24 time zones

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