How will global warming, and particularly sea level rises, affect New York City?
Please include citations to credible sources, if available.
2 Answers
I am not an environmental scientist nor an expert in this field but it is a topic that I have speculated about. Some of my thoughts are:
Sea Level
1. Sea level has been predicted to rise due to climate change, however sea levels in the New York City region's harbors are also effected by astronomical tides and storm surges, so it is likely that there will be a large range of tidal affects that will occur over time. For example, we may begin to see flooding during storms or especially when storms occur during naturally occurring high tides. In this sense the impact will be incrementally felt but punctuated by sudden, temporary floods before a wholesale and permanent flood takes place.
Flooding Impact
2. Large portions of urban infrastructure exist below ground. This includes utilities, and sewers. Should these be flooded we could see the release of toxic pollutants into the water as well as interruption of essential services and transportation, which will make remediation and clean-up that much more difficult.
Protection
3. Given the extremely high cost and logistical difficulties of creating barriers or dykes to protect the harbor it is difficult to see how such an effort would be funded. But, then again, there are many wealthy corporations and individuals in New York City who might contribute to such and effort both directly and through lobbying and influence.
Sea Level
1. Sea level has been predicted to rise due to climate change, however sea levels in the New York City region's harbors are also effected by astronomical tides and storm surges, so it is likely that there will be a large range of tidal affects that will occur over time. For example, we may begin to see flooding during storms or especially when storms occur during naturally occurring high tides. In this sense the impact will be incrementally felt but punctuated by sudden, temporary floods before a wholesale and permanent flood takes place.
Flooding Impact
2. Large portions of urban infrastructure exist below ground. This includes utilities, and sewers. Should these be flooded we could see the release of toxic pollutants into the water as well as interruption of essential services and transportation, which will make remediation and clean-up that much more difficult.
Protection
3. Given the extremely high cost and logistical difficulties of creating barriers or dykes to protect the harbor it is difficult to see how such an effort would be funded. But, then again, there are many wealthy corporations and individuals in New York City who might contribute to such and effort both directly and through lobbying and influence.
