Rising sea levels threaten the viability of more than 1,400 U.S. cities and towns, including Coronado, according to a new report by Climate Central.
Greenhouse gas emissions that are already in the atmosphere have locked in 4 feet of future sea level rise that are set to submerge parts of Coronado and 316 other sea-side municipalities across the nation in the coming decades, according to the report.
That’s because carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for centuries and causes warmer temperatures — a major factor in rising sea levels.
The international team of scientists found for every degree Fahrenheit of warming from carbon pollution, sea level will rise by about 4.2 feet in the long run.
“By the end of this century, if global climate emissions continue to increase, that may lock in 23 feet of sea level rise, and threaten 1,429 municipalities that would be mostly submerged at high tide,” said Ben Strauss, director of the Program on Sea Level Rise at Climate Central.
But under a very low emissions scenario, sea level rise might be limited to about 7.5 feet, Strauss added.
