Posted on 06/25/2012 8:46:12 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Atlantic Ocean is rising at an annual rate three times faster than the global average since 1990, according to the US Geological Survey.
Sea levels are rising much faster along the U.S. East Coast than they are around the globe, putting one of the world's most costly coasts in danger of flooding, government researchers report.
U.S. Geological Survey scientists call the 600-mile (965-kilometer) swath a "hot spot" for climbing sea levels caused by global warming. Along the region, the Atlantic Ocean is rising at an annual rate three times to four times faster than the global average since 1990, according to the study published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change.
It's not just a faster rate, but at a faster pace, like a car on a highway "jamming on the accelerator," said the study's lead author, Asbury Sallenger Jr., an oceanographer at the agency. He looked at sea levels starting in 1950, and noticed a change beginning in 1990.
Since then, sea levels have gone up globally about 2 inches (5 centimeters). But in Norfolk, Virginia, where officials are scrambling to fight more frequent flooding, sea level has jumped a total of 4.8 inches (12.19 centimeters), the research showed. For Philadelphia, levels went up 3.7 inches (9.4 centimeters), and in New York City, it was 2.8 inches (7.11 centimeters).
Climate change pushes up sea levels by melting ice sheets in Greenland and west Antarctica, and because warmer water expands.
Computer models long have projected higher levels along parts of the East Coast because of changes in ocean currents from global warming, but this is the first study to show that's already happened.
By 2100, scientists and computer models estimate that sea levels globally could rise as much as 3.3 feet (1.01 meters).
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
While I don’t understand it, somewhere I heard that the pacific ocean at the Panama canal is higher than the Atlantic ocean.
If Philadelphia is now a COASTAL City there are much bigger problems that a couple inches of sea level rise. DId the ENTIRE STATE of New Jersey dissappear????????
Even if you stretched the imagination as far as it can stretch -- tidal effects on the Delaware River end near Trenton, NJ. Philadelphia is and always will be a Fresh Water port.
Is the article claiming that all of the water is somehow shifting so that it is running uphill on the Atlantic coast?
Man-made gravity-disruption.
The sky is falling, the sky is falling,,,,oh wait,,,the ocean is rising, the ocean is rising,,,,wait,,,,the east coast is sinking, the east coast is sinking..........
With all the BS flowing out of DC and news rooms in NY what did you expect?
You put that much weight in one spot your bound to compact the earth below it.
Unless the wind is blowing from east to west 24/7/365, it's all BS.
with the exception of the tide you are 100% correct.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Yep! That’s why its called SEA LEVEL.
These globull warmer nuts are both transparent and desparate.
East Coast may be sinking. After much screeching and handwringing, they finally realized that the Great Lakes were not drying up, the land was rising or rebounding from the Ice Age glacier weight.
RE: Seth Borenstein
Stopped reading right there. SB is BS.
SOURCE:
http://opa.yale.edu/images/poynter/Borenstein-bio.html
Seth Borenstein is a national science writer for The Associated Press, the world’s largest news organization, covering issues ranging from climate change to astronomy.
He is the winner of numerous journalism awards, including the National Journalism Award for environment reporting in 2007 from the Scripps Foundation and the Outstanding Beat Reporting award from the Society of Environmental Journalists in 2008 and 2004. He was part of a team of finalists for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Columbia space shuttle disaster.
A science and environmental journalist for nearly 20 years, covering everything from hurricanes to space shuttle launches, Borenstein has also worked for Knight Ridder Newspapers’ Washington Bureau, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale.
He is the co-author of three long out-of-print books, two on hurricanes and one on popular science, and once tried out for Florida Marlins (unsuccessfully).
Since we are a lot fatter than we used to be, perhaps we are displacing more as we swim?
“3 Times Faster”?! Heeeeeelp!! How much time do I have?
Since the Atlantic Ocean is rising at such an alarming rate, better start relocating London, Boston, NYC, DC, Baltimore, Miami, Houston, NO, etc etc.
I’ll believe the global warming crowd after they move away from coastal areas.
What a bunch of losers.
“Maybe the Eastern coast is sinking?”
Not fast enough!
They’d better check on Guam. It might be tipping over, too.
Evacuate Rochester...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.