Rising sea levels due to climate change could threaten the Northeastern United States sooner than other areas of the globe, according to a new study from the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies.  Having grown up in Boston, and spent most of my life until now in the Northeast, I am none too pleased about this news, and hope that quick action is taken to avert disaster.  For those of us who were subjected to the film the Day After Tomorrow, we know it wouldn’t be pretty.  The report, published by Nature Geoscience,  the region could experience rises of up to 23 inches due to thermal expansion and the slowing of circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean caused by warmer temperatures. Author Jianjun Yin warns that New York, Boston, Washington D.C. and other major cities along the coast are much more susceptible to flooding from hurricanes and winter storm surges:

The northeast coast of the United States is among the most vulnerable regions to future changes in sea level and ocean circulation, especially when considering its population density and the potential socioeconomic consequences of such changes.  The most populous states and cities of the United States and centers of economy, politics, culture and education are located along that coast.

As I’m sure my family and other residents of the Northeast would agree, I really hope big changes will come about when world leaders meet later this year in Copenhagen to discuss new greenhouse gas emission regulations, before this threat becomes “irreversible”.

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Photo: Sister72’s Flickr Photosteam (creative commons)