Tens of millions of residents along the southeastern coast of the United States are growing concerned as a disturbing new study indicates that sea levels have been rising at an accelerated rate since 2010, specifically along this corner of the country.

This study, which was revealed in a co-authored paper published by the Washington Post, indicated that sea levels along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts have risen by about 1 centimeter a year over the last 13 years, amounting to almost 5 inches in total.

And of course an unfortunate “side effect” of rising sea levels is harsher hurricanes, which we have already seen in recent years.

“It turns out that the water level associated with Hurricane Ian was the highest on record due to the combined effect of sea-level rise and storm surge,” climate scientist Jianjun Yin from the University of Arizona told the Washington Post, referring to the deadly hurricane that slammed the state of Florida last year, resulting in nearly 200 deaths and over $100 billion dollars in damages, making it the third-costliest tropical cyclone on record and the number one costliest in Florida’s history.

Among the cities threatened by rising sea-levels is New Orleans, LA, Houston, TX, Miami, FL, and Mobile, AL, which may become nearly uninhabitable by the year 2040 or earlier, as the rising rate has far exceeded the rates projected by experts. And in fact, according to one of the co-authors of the study, Sönke Dangendorf, the rates we are now seeing were not expected in original projections until the end of the century.

For more information, watch The Valley Labor Report’s Adam Keller give a quick overview of the situation on YouTube:

 

Joe Harrison is graphic designer and video producer for The Valley Labor Report, as well as an orchestral composer. Having a long history with self-centered, manipulative, and abusive employers, he joined TVLR in November 2021 in an effort to raise awareness of worker struggles and the severe imbalance of power in the workplace and the nation as a whole.