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According to NOAA, "global mean sea level has been rising at an
average rate of 1 to 2 mm/year over the past 100 years, which is
significantly larger than the rate averaged over the last several
thousand years. Projected increase from 1990-2100 is anywhere from
0.09-0.88 meters, depending on which greenhouse gas scenario is used
and many physical uncertainties in contributions to sea-level rise
from a variety of frozen and unfrozen water sources."
In 2007, a United Nations panel of 2500 scientists from 130
countries concluded that as the ice caps melt over the next century,
sea levels can be expected to rise 11-17 inches by the year 2100.
As sea levels rise, even smaller, category 2 and 3 hurricanes
will probably become much more dangerous and severe when coming
ashore in low-lying high-populated areas. According to the
National Environmental Trust, the following cities in the United
States are especially threatened by future rising sea levels brought
about by global warming:
Major Metro Areas: Miami, New York City, Washington
D.C., Boston
Gulf Coast Towns: South Padre Island (TX), Biloxi (MS),
Galveston (TX)
Northeast Cities and Towns: Cape Cod (MA), Martha's
Vineyard (MA)
Mid-Atlantic Cities and Towns: Chrisfield (MD), Wilmington
(DE), Ocean City (MD)
Southeast Cities and Towns: Tybee Island (GA),
Charleston (SC)
Florida: Clear Water, Fort Meyers, Jacksonville, Key
Largo, Key West, Sarasota
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