JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — “This is a global wake-up call and gives Americans the information needed to act now to best position ourselves for the future,” said Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA Administrator.
A report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shares shocking impacts that could occur across our U.S. coastlines if current emissions are not curbed.
“As we build a Climate Ready Nation, these updated data can inform coastal communities and others about current and future vulnerabilities in the face of climate change and help them make smart decisions to keep people and property safe over the long run," added Spinrad.
Here are the four main takeaways from the full report, which you can find on NOAA's website.
10-12" of sea level rise along the U.S. coast in the next 30 years
- Equal to amount measured over the last 100 years
More damaging flooding projected
- Tidal and surge heights to increase and reach further inland ten times more often
Emissions matter!
- Failing to curb future emissions could cause 3.5' to 7' sea level rise by the end of the century
Continual tracking will help communities adapt
- Ability to understand factors will be critical as sea levels continue to rise
- Reports like this should help increase awareness and community engagement to curb future emissions
If you'd like to see what certain sea level rise would mean for the area you live in, you can check out NOAA's Sea Level Rise Viewer:
“For businesses along the coast, knowing what to expect and how to plan for the future is critical,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “These updated projections will help businesses, and the communities they support, understand risks and make smart investments in the years ahead.”
“This new data on sea rise is the latest reconfirmation that our climate crisis — as the President has said — is blinking ‘code red,’” said Gina McCarthy, National Climate Advisor. “We must redouble our efforts to cut the greenhouse gases that cause climate change while, at the same time, help our coastal communities become more resilient in the face of rising seas.”
The Sea Level Rise Technical Report provides the most up-to-date sea level rise projections for all U.S. states and territories by decade for the next 100 years and beyond, based on a combination of tide gauge and satellite observations and all the model ensembles from the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report projects sea levels along the coastline will rise an additional 10-12 inches by 2050 with specific amounts varying regionally, mainly due to land height changes.