New climate models revealed that sea levels will rise twice as fast along the northeastern coast of the United States this century, compared to the rest of the country. According to climate scientists, these changes will also put New York City at high risk of damage from hurricanes and winter storm surges.

The computer models published at the end of the week in Nature Geoscience reveal an extra 20 centimeters (approximately 8 inches) rise in sea levels along the northeast coast by 2100, which poses serious risks for the population here.

Jianjun Yin, climate modeler at Florida State University and lead author of the study, said the chances for this above average rise to happen exceed 90 percent, making the heavily populated coast a sure victim of global warming.

The rise in ocean surface temperature, and the ocean current changes, will reflect not only in the coast itself, but in its economy and population. As Yin explained, the population density here and the potential economic and social effects make it the most vulnerable area in the United States.

The problem in New York especially is that it is only 5 feet above sea level, so an 8 inch increase would be felt here on a more intense level. These assessments are a clear indication that some parts of the United States are not prepared for a global sea-level rise that high.

Furthermore, these climate models only took into consideration the warming of the ocean and the changes in currents, leaving the melting of the ice caps aside, due to lacking specific data.

Image Credit: Photo illustration by John Blackford; original photograph by Cameron Davidson.