Rising sea levels are posing a significant threat to California’s coastline, where 70 percent of residents live and millions more visit each year, according to a new study.
The report, released last week by the California Ocean Protection Council, warns that ocean levels are predicted to rise an average of 0.24 meters by 2050 compared to the year 2000, potentially reaching up to 1.86 meters by 2150.
This update to the 2018 report highlights advancements in scientific understanding and the ability to project future sea level rise over the past six years, providing more certainty to the projections.
Researchers identified two major factors contributing to sea level rise: ocean warming, resulting from increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and the melting of land ice.
Sea level rise is expected to bring serious coastal impacts on communities, including flooding and erosion, which are projected to worsen in the coming years.
With a 0.24-meter rise in ocean levels, flooding could become more frequent and severe, occurring throughout the year and posing a grave threat to homes, businesses, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
The San Francisco Bay Area, for instance, accounts for two-thirds of the future flood risk to California’s population and property values statewide, the report notes. Low-lying areas across the state are also at risk, including numerous coastal and estuarine communities, as well as airports, port facilities, transportation corridors, and public utilities.
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U.S. California's coastline faces grim future as sea levels rise
cgtn.com
