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 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms what 

. Melting ice sheets and Greenland and Antarctica combined with thermal expansion of warmer oceans is already pushing seas higher at a rate that will lead to at least 2 feet of sea level rise by 2100.

The study of satellite measurements shows the rate of sea level rise is accelerating over the past 25 years.

The faster rate of sea levels rise will likely overwhelm adaptation efforts in many coastal cities by the end of this century. The higher base state of oceans means storm surge-driven coastal floods will deliver more severe damage.

We tend to think of sea level rise as a slow-motion steady event. The reality is sea level rise can be uneven over time and space. Sudden surges can occur as climate change-driven glacial melt water pulses into our oceans from ice sheets in Greenland and other locations. More severe climate change-enhanced storms like Hurricane Harvey then drive more damaging storm surges further inland due to the higher ocean base state. The increase in flooding and damage can be exponential, not linear.

It doesn't take a genius to see that the current rate of sea level rise is highly problematic in this century. Simply extrapolating out current trends over time yields some very unsettling future scenarios.

Some of the most impactful and costly climate change events over the next 80 years will likely be driven by higher sea levels and storm surges. 

 of millions of people are more likely to cause widespread unrest. Significant economic shock waves from catastrophic storm events are increasingly likely to 

 and other economic systems. Significant sections of major cities like Miami will be permanently or frequently underwater by 2100. Trillions of dollars in real estate are 

 have been warning about the impacts of rising sea levels for years. What's different about this week's study is the 

measured satellite data of what's already happening

 in our oceans. This is not some future model predicting what 

Our oceans are rising faster than previously thought, and the pace is accelerating. Our atmosphere is warming and spawning more intense storms. My best assessment is we are just now at the beginning of an era of extreme climate change enhanced weather shocks like we saw last year with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Rising seas will likely overwhelm adaptation efforts in many coastal cities.

Satellites: Sea level rise to reach 2 feet by 2100

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