Sea levels projected to rise at record speeds along US coastlines

Washington DC - Over the next 30 years sea levels could rise as much as they have over the past century, a report by US agencies including NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has found.

With sea levels projected to rise up to 12 inches by 2050, neighborhoods along the Connecticut shore are increasingly at risk.
With sea levels projected to rise up to 12 inches by 2050, neighborhoods along the Connecticut shore are increasingly at risk.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

The report, released on Tuesday, projected that sea level along US coastlines was set to rise 10 to 12 inches on average above today's levels by 2050.

"This report supports previous studies and confirms what we have long known: Sea levels are continuing to rise at an alarming rate, endangering communities around the world," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

"Science is indisputable and urgent action is required to mitigate a climate crisis that is well underway."

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According to the report, the sea level rise "will create a profound shift in coastal flooding," with "tide and storm surge heights to increase and reach further inland."

"By 2050, 'moderate' (typically damaging) flooding is expected to occur, on average, more than 10 times as often as it does today, and can be intensified by local factors," the report said.

The document, titled Global and Regional Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United States, is an update of a report from 2017, and "for the first time, offers near-term projections for the next 30 years," according to a NASA statement.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

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