WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

One of the most severe consequences of global warming will be, and is, the rising sea levels. This threat will raise sea levels in some places - low-lying islands and major coastal cities - while lowering it in others, causing the need for drastic changes in order to secure the safety of many lives. As of now, coastal cities are predicted to be underwater by 2100, leaving vast percentages of land inhabitable -- 10% of land inhabitable just by 2060. Collected by the Union of Concerned Scientists, these top five cities would experience the most severe consequences relating to habitable land and economical costs. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, using evidence found with a virtual simulation based on the prognostication of GHGs emitted, scientists Aixue Hu and Susan Bates were able to predict the longer-term consequences of emitting different levels of GHGs. By comparing the projections of emissions if they were to stay the same, the cities at the most harm would be in substantially less danger if they found a way to reduce their emissions. 

*Although the following data is quite convincing to argue for reducing GHGs, the simulations exclude variables caused by melting glaciers and ice which make up ⅔ of sea-level rise. There would also be little to no visible change in projected sea-level rise in the two coming decades because of the inertia of the climate system where the heat that has entered the ocean is restrained for a lengthy period of time.*

 

According to Hu and Bates, with their simulation the current rate of greenhouse gas temperatures will increase the overall atmospheric temperature by 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit by the late 20th century; however, if greenhouse gases were to substantially reduce, the atmospheric temperature would only increase by 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit by that same time. It is predicted that sea-level rise and expansion will cause a 17.8 cm growth, yet, with a decrease in greenhouse gases, this growth would reduce to 13.2 cm and have a drastic effect on the consequences suffered by coastal cities and low-lying Islands. Cities that would experience a greater than average reduction are New York City with a reduction of 9.8 cm, Boston with 9.3 cm, London with 8.3 cm, Dar es Salaam with 6.8 cm, Miami with 6.5 cm, and Mumbai with 5.8 centimeters. Decreases of a lesser significance would be seen in South America, Asia, Bangkok, Australia, and the West Coast of North America. Different locations in the world would experience a reduction in GHGs contrastingly because of the influence, or lack thereof, that major currents and atmospheric-ocean interactions have on different regions.