"US Sea Level Expected to Rise in Next 30 Years as Much as Past 10 Years"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] A warning has been issued that sea level rise in the United States over the next 30 years could match the rise seen over the past 100 years.

According to the AP News and others on the 15th (local time), the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasted in a report that sea levels along the U.S. coastline will rise by an average of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) by 2050. This is similar to the sea level rise over the 100 years from 1920 to 2020.

Extending the period to 2100, NOAA analyzed that the sea level rise could reach 61 cm. If carbon emissions are not curbed, sea levels could rise by 110 to 210 cm by the end of the 21st century, and by 2050, flooding at normal levels is expected to occur more than 10 times as frequently as now on average.

Nicole LeBoeuf, director of NOAA, stated, "There must be no mistake. Sea level rise is coming," pointing out that a large part of the U.S. economy and 40% of the population live in coastal areas, which could result in significant related costs.

William Sweet, a marine scientist at NOAA and the lead author of the report, analyzed that "unless more communities take action, streets will be flooded," and even if the world acts quickly to curb carbon emissions, the trend of sea level rise over the next 30 years is somewhat predetermined.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.