Study says millions more are exposed to rising seas than thought
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- A new study in Nature reveals that about 90% of past research underestimated baseline coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot (30 cm), leading to underestimations of sea level rise impacts, especially in the Global South, Pacific, and Southeast Asia.
- The discrepancy arises from differing measurement methods for sea and land altitudes, with many studies assuming a zero baseline that ignores real-world factors like tides, waves, and currents at the coastline.
- Correcting this baseline could mean that a 3-foot (1 meter) sea level rise might inundate up to 37% more land and threaten 77 to 132 million additional people, complicating climate adaptation and planning efforts.
- The study highlights real-world consequences
