March 16, 2009 -- Not far off the east coast of the United States, a mountain of water is lurking. If even a moderate amount of global warming takes place in the next century, a new study says it could slosh toward shore, doubling the rate of sea level rise in New York City. Predictions on how much the oceans will rise by 2100 are highly uncertain; the latest estimates range from 50 centimeters to over a meter (1.6 to 3.3 feet). Melting glaciers play a large role in those estimates, as do rising temperatures, which cause ocean waters to swell as they trap heat. The eastern seaboard of the United States is experiencing a bit of good sea level luck right now; waters in the area are around 0.6 meters (2 feet) lower than the global average. The trough is maintained by the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Current, two powerful mid-ocean rivers that pile water up offshore as they course north toward the chilly latitudes of the Arctic. Related Content:
But Jianjun Yin of Florida State University and a team of researchers wondered what will happen to water levels if climate change weakens the currents as expected. Warming ocean temperatures and increased freshwater precipitation are expected to disrupt circulation in the Atlantic by as much as 30 percent, even when ignoring the potential for melting glaciers exacerbating the effect. "Right now the currents are just offshore, but if they decline it will cause rapid sea level rise," Yin said. Excluding the effects of ice sheet melting on sea level, the team estimates global waters will swell 21, 26 and 28 centimeters for scenarios of low, medium and high warming. Shifting currents could pile on an additional 15, 20, and 21 centimeters for the northeastern United States. New York City and Boston and most of the northeast are likely to be hit the hardest. The effect becomes greater when the full scope of the world's melting ice is considered. The team's work was published yesterday in the journal Nature Geoscience. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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