Rising sea levels indicate catastrophic risk to lives: Research

As per a research by Climate Central, a science organisation based in New Jersey, published an article in the journal Nature Communications on October 29, about rising sea levels that could affect three times more people by 2050 than previously thought. The researchers of the study calculated land elevation based on satellite readings, a standard way of estimating the effects of sea-level rise over large areas, and found that the previous numbers were lower. Research says that more than 150 million people will be submerged with 31 years. 

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Parts of the world which is predicted to be undersea

The research claims that Southern Vietnam's 20 million people will be inundated with much of Ho Chi Minh City underwater. More than 10 percent of the population in Thailand is also predicted to be submerged with parts of Bangkok. Water also threatens to consume the heart of the city and many other cities around it in Shanghai. Water also threatens to consume the heart of the city and many other cities around it in Shanghai. Much of Mumbai, India’s financial capital and one of the largest cities in the world, is also at risk of being wiped out. Alexandria, Egypt, founded by Alexander the Great around 330BC could also be submerged. Others on the list include Basra in Iraq. 

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Researchers established the study on satellite technology

Scott A Kulp, a researcher at Climate Central and one of the paper’s authors explained that standard elevation measurements using satellites struggle to differentiate the true ground level from the tops of trees or buildings. He used artificial intelligence to determine the error rate and correct for it along with Benjamin Strauss, Climate Central’s chief executive. The data shows that 110 million people already live in places that are below the high tide line. The Climate Central chief executive said cities must invest in walls and other structures to avert the situation. Yet that might not be enough to avoid the inevitable he said citing the example of New Orleans. 

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Dina Ionesco of the International Organisation for Migration, an intergovernmental group that coordinates action on migrants and development said the media that overall, the research shows that countries should start preparing now for more citizens to relocate internally. 

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