Thursday, March 12, 2009

The Oceans Are A Threat
California is in danger from sea level rising.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California's farms and cities may be left high and dry by prolonged drought, but climate change is expected to leave much of the state's fabled shoreline awash in excess seawater before too long.

Nearly 500,000 people and $100 billion worth of property in coastal California are at risk of severe flooding from rising sea levels this century unless new safeguards are put in place, researchers reported on Wednesday.

With global warming expected to lift ocean levels along the California shore by 1 to 1.4 meters (1 to 1.4 yards) before the year 2100, large tracts of the picturesque Pacific coast also will be lost to accelerated erosion, their study found.

The report suggests that the heightened flood risk could be minimized by investing about $14 billion in a system of newly built or upgraded sea walls, levees and offshore breakwaters to reinforce some 1,100 miles of coast.

The article mentions a three to four foot rise in sea levels. It could be far higher. It is funny you never see this type of article about Florida. It is going to be an intersting couple of decades.


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