Climate Central has published a tool that projects some consequences of climate change.
The effects of global warming and climate change in Australia become more and more apparent after each devastating bushfire season. However, as we look to the future, we can expect sea level rise to affect many coastal cities and communities around the world as well. And Australia is no different.
According to Climate.gov, the global mean sea level has risen about 8-9 inches (21-24 cm) since 1880. The rise has accelerated in recent years, rising 3.4 inches (87.6mm) between 1990 and 2019 alone. By 2100, levels are expected to increase by at least a foot (0.3 meters), in the best-case scenario. The worst-case scenario (high ice loss from Iceland and Greenland) would see an increase of 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) by 2100.
Climate Central’s tool uses information gathered from peer-reviewed science in leading journals ”to identify places that may require deeper investigation of risk”.
With most of Australia’s infrastructure—roads, bridges, train lines and communication networks among other —located in coastal regions, there’s likely to be effects and disruptions in the future for many Australians. And according to the State of the Environment report from 2011, ”between 160,000 and 250,000 individual homes are potentially at risk of inundation from a 1.1 metre rise in sea level.”
Furthermore, it’s important to note that Climate Central highlights the accuracy of the map drops ”when assessing risks from extreme flood events” as well as ”factors such as erosion, future changes in the frequency or intensity of storms, inland flooding, or contributions from rainfall or rivers.”
All of which are issues associated with global warming and the effects of climate change as pointed out by the CSIRO and other leading scientific organisations. These factors also mean that a rise in sea level is not like water rising in a bathtub as some people tend to think.
Melbourne under 1m of water
Melbourne under 2m of water
Melbourne under 3m of water
Melbourne under 10m of water
Take a look here and see for yourself what a rise in sea levels could mean for Australia, its cities and coastline.