The predicted rate of sea level rise has been adjusting steadily upwards as we begin to see actual warming patterns. Recent research accounting for rapid declines of Greenland and Antarctic ice mass finds indicates that sea-levels will rise at least 1-2 meters by the end of the century.[1, 2]
More than 100 million people live on land within 1m of sea level. A rise of 1m will put nearly half of the land of Bangladesh under water, and almost completely submerge some island countries such as the Seychelles off the east coast of Africa. [3]
Notes:
[1] Vermeer, M., and Rahmstorf, S. (2009). "Global sea level linked to global temperature." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(51), 21527-21532.
[2] I. Allison, N.L., Bindoff, R.A. Bindschadler, et. al. (2009)."Copenhagen Diagnosis". The Copenhagen Diagnosis, 2009: Updating the World on the Latest Climate Science. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
[3] http://www.seed.slb.com/subcontent.aspx?id=4090
Articles: Wikipedia: Current sea level rise
Maps that show a Rise in Sea Levels:
- Coastline Changes as Sea Levels Rise from 1m - 14m (meltdown of Greenlandic ice shield)
- World Maps for a sea level rise in 60m - meltdown of the antarctic ice shield
- Sea Levels Online: National Ocean Service displays local sea level rise and trends via map interface
- Sea Level Rise Planning Maps: County and state maps showing which lands below 5 meters are likely and unlikely to be protected from a rising sea, according to a US Environmental Protection Agency study.
Back to Impending Global Crises, Global_Warming