The article in the url below brings home the very real consequences of climate change (in the not too distant future):
"The swelling ocean may threaten the homes of up to 13.1 million coast-dwelling Americans by the end of this century, according to the study published today in the journal Nature Climate Change. … the research is novel because it combines population projections with sea-level rise projections."
In particular, Florida residents are at the gravest risk in the worst-case scenario modelled by the researchers:
"The largest absolute numbers of people at risk are in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Florida. These two areas would make up 25 percent of all people impacted nationally—or more than 3.5 million—if waters rise by 6 feet, which is the most extreme scenario the study's authors anticipated. That threat has made the southern Florida climate story the center of much attention in recent years. More than 100,000 people could be displaced in each of 31 counties in the 6-foot rise scenario."
Not only are the dangers great, however, but the options for prevention are limited and expensive:
"Starting to move Americans around would get expensive. Small Alaska towns are already moving, the Nature researchers note, as warmer sea and air temperatures make their coastal lives impossible. The cost incurred there has been an estimated $1 million a person."
A chart from the article indicating the most at-risk states in the U.S. can be found here.
Have a good weekend
David
David Chandler & Bill Werther
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Up to 13 million Americans are at Risk of Being Washed Away
By Eric Roston
February 14, 2016
Bloomberg Businessweek
