News
In the southeastern United States and particularly in Florida, folks concerned about climate change are usually focused on sea level rise rather than on warming. In Florida most long-term stations measuring sea level are currently registering a rise of about 2 millimeters per year or about 8 inches in 100 years. Most scientists expect this rate to increase. But how much and when?
This study estimates a rise of 32 inches by 2100 as the best guess for sea level rise in south Florida and a smaller probability of a rise of 40 inches. Most other studies tend to estimate a larger rise in sea level.
The Florida Climate Institute (FloridaClimateInstitute.org; jointly managed by the University of Florida and Florida State University) commissioned Professor Gary T. Mitchum of the University of South Florida to prepare this report. Dr. Mitchum is a world-class expert in sea level. The funds to support his efforts were obtained from the Southeast Climate Consortium (SEClimate.org).
This report should be used as a basic explanation of the existence and physics of sea level variations. Most readers will be fairly well informed about the physics of sea level rise if they read this report.
Source: Florida Climate Institute, Southeast Climate Consortium
