Louisiana

Jonathan Overpeck, director of the Environmental Studies Laboratory in the department of geosciences at the University of Arizona, and senior research specialist Jeremy Weiss have created simulations of what could occur to coastal communities worldwide as sea levels begin to rise because of global warming. The simulations show what coastal regions look like now, and what could happen if sea levels climb 1 meter.

Last week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report stating that sea levels could rise from 7 to 23 inches by 2100 because of rising temperatures. Other scientists, however, have predicted that sea levels could rise 10 feet or more because of accelerated melting of the polar ice caps.

These simulations show Louisiana today (left) and what could happen if sea levels rise a meter (right). Red and pink mark areas susceptible to flooding. White indicates high population density, while green patches indicate low population density.

February 6, 2007 12:30 PM PST

Photo by: University of Arizona/Jonathan Overpeck