The three-degree world: the cities that will be drowned by global warming

The Guardian ^ | November 3, 2017 | by Richard Luscombe

[Oldeconomybuyer]

One of the biggest resulting threats to cities around the world is sea-level rise, caused by the expansion of water at higher temperatures and melting ice sheets on the north and south poles.

Osaka, Japan - 5.2 million people affected

At the end of a month in which it has been battered by unseasonably late typhoons and relentless rain, Japan is already confronting the threat posed by climate change-induced flooding.

Alexandria, Egypt - 3 million people affected

On the Alexandria Corniche, waves slowly lap at a shoreline dotted with plastic chairs and umbrellas from the beachside cafes. Students perch on the steps of the imposing Alexandria library. But the same coastline that draws locals to its scenic vistas is threatening to slowly engulf the historic city as sea levels rise due to global warming.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 1.8 million people affected

Residents of Brazil’s postcard city have plenty of reasons to fear global warming – even if they don’t quite know it. According to Climate Central, a temperature rise of 3C would cause flooding of not just Rio’s famous beaches such as Copacabana and its waterfront domestic airport, but also inland areas of the Barra de Tijuca neighbourhood, where last year’s Olympic Games were held.

Shanghai, China - 17.5 million people affected

“Shanghai is completely gone – I’d have to move to Tibet!” says resident Wei Tu Hai, when he is shown projections for the city after 3C of global warming.

Miami, US - 2.7 million people affected

Few other cities in the world have as much to lose from rising sea levels as Miami, and the alarm bells sound ever louder with each successive “king tide” that overwhelms coastal defences and sends knee-deep seawater coursing through downtown streets.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[Jim from C-Town]

I guess they will have to move inland. What is the big deal? People move all the time.

[rstrahan]

Not answering current data showing cooling oceans, decline in temperatures

[jalisco555]

It’s probably a good time to buy real estate in all these cities.

[C210N]

Spotless Days

Current Stretch: 2 days

2017 total: 70 days (23%)

2016 total: 32 days (9%)

2015 total: 0 days (0%)

2014 total: 1 day (<1%)

2013 total: 0 days (0%)

2012 total: 0 days (0%)

2011 total: 2 days (<1%)

2010 total: 51 days (14%)

2009 total: 260 days (71%)

Updated 03 Nov 2017

[silverleaf]

And
Maybe 2 mile-thick ice sheets will return to Manhattan.

[DesertRhino]

Then move inland.

[Interesting Times]

I suggest we assume this is true. If we de-fund all the climate science organizations right now, we should be able to pay for the coming relocations.

[hinckley buzzard]

The Guardian citing Climate Central is like the blind being led by the insane.

[RightGeek]

[eyeamok]

Governor Brown of California, did you see this? we need to act immediately, I propose you sign an Executive Order Mandating that ALL Habitations within 2 miles of the Pacific Coast be immediately Evacuated and then razed to restore the Coastline to it’s Natural State. Then Quarantine from ALL Human Activity the Entire Coastline of California in the name of Safety.

This will Save Millions of Lives of Democrat Voters who are about to be Killed by Global Warming’s deadly Sea Level rise.

[arthurus]

The seas have been rising steadily since the end of the ice age and vast amounts of continental coastlines have been drowned. Human beings have, indeed moved inland. The envirowacks cry as if this is going to happen in a century and cannot be compensated for. The northern hemisphere has warmed before and it has cooled both in relatively recent history.The Roman Empire existed in a rather warmer climate and the Little Ice Age ended a couple of centuries ago.

Sundaland

A fascinating treatment of historical and prehistorical warming.

[BitWielder1]

Japan, Brazil and even Egypt have the wherewithal to relocate to higher ground in good time, I'm not so sure about Miami and New York.

[arthurus]

Not likely but shorter growing seasons and less food is a distinct possibility. Another Little Ice Age, which seems more likely than a 2C increase in temperatures, will bring the return of Famine to the third world and much higher food prices without another Green Revolution for cooler climes.

[Tax-chick]

Women and minorities hardest hit!

[budj]

It ain’t rising seas so much:

https://sealevel.nasa.gov/news/58/big-coastal-cities-sink-faster-than-seas-rise

[PIF]

This, despite the official NOAA report that sea levels are FALLING, due to MASSIVE increase in Antarctic ice sheets ...

[ctdonath2]

Skimmed the article & links.

It’s all based on a very few numbers, worst case scenario of a 4°C warming causing a 30 ft rise in sea level. That’s _worst_ case.
My first reaction is that daily tidal shift alone is about 10 ft. On top of that, a storm surge can add another 10 ft or more. Article notes that “king tides” swamp streets in Miami etc from time to time ...
... if your city is freaking under water AT ALL EVER, THAT’S A HINT TO MOVE - NOW. I’m not going to be sympathetic to people who ignore such blatant warnings from Mother Nature herself (it’s kinda like the NOLA flooding: for decades, I saw annual articles saying “hey, someday this area is going to flood” - then it did, go figure).
I’m also not going to be particularly sympathetic to anyone living within a vertical distance from high tide less than the daily tidal fluctuation. Again, there’s a pretty strong warning: even _without_ “global warming”, you’re knowingly living close to trouble.
And I write this as someone considering a move to the Outer Banks, knowing full d@mn well that doing so risks oceanic over wash (hence I haven’t moved yet). You’re welcome to live where you want; just don’t blame others when a predictable disaster occurs.
Well there ya go, folks. You’ve your 100-year warning: if you’re less than 30 vertical feet from daily high tide, start moving in- & up-land. In looking at photos & maps of these areas, of late I’ve been struck by how much unused mountain surface is, well, _right_there_. Y’all don’t have to go far to get above the problem. And it’s going to be a lot cheaper to move 100,000,000 people than to “fix” whatever is causing the alleged problem (assuming the “fix” doesn’t make things much worse).

We’re at the peak of a long-term temperature cycle, facing a long decline in global temps. We may find that “global warming” might just save us from a _drop_ of 5°C and all the problems accompanying _that_.

[txrefugee]

There is no God-given guarantee that if you build cities at the edge of oceans they won’t flood. We certainly should stop insuring buildings so situated.

[lurk]

Give me a ring when it actually happens. Until then, we have a life to live.