Study Warns Parts Of The UK Could Be Below Sea Level By 2100

A new study has indicated that vast swathes of the UK could be below sea level by the year 2100.

The research by Climate Central indicates areas such as Liverpool, London and Humberside could be left completely submerged.

Climate Central

The likes of Cardiff, Swansea, Hull and Peterborough are also forecast to be below water on a map published with the study, which shows areas that could be below sea level (marked in red).

The rise in sea levels is attributed to climate change, which is causing polar ice caps to melt.

Dr Scott Kulp, a senior scientist at Climate Central and lead author of the study, said it's not too late for this 'doomsday' scenario to be prevented.

He said: "These assessments show the potential of climate change to reshape cities, economies, coastlines and entire global regions within our lifetimes.

"As the tideline rises higher than the ground people call home, nations will increasingly confront questions about whether, how much and how long coastal defences can protect them."

Climate Central

Of course, the impact of rising sea levels would not only be felt in the UK. The study found that within three decades chronic flooding could affect areas where a total of 300 million people live. Coastal parts of Asia are at particularly high risk, and by the end of the century, areas home to 200 million people could fall permanently below the high tide line.

The study concludes: "Deep, immediate cuts to global emissions would modestly reduce the danger posed by rising seas this century.

"Such cuts would reduce the total number of people threatened by annual flooding and permanent inundation at the end of the century by 20 million, relative to moderate emissions cuts made roughly in line with the Paris agreement.

Climate Central

"Notably, the benefits of deep emissions cuts would reach far beyond sea level rise, reducing the danger posed by climate change's many other risks.

"If governments seek to limit future impacts from ocean flooding, they could also avoid new construction in areas at high risk of inundation, while protecting, relocating or abandoning existing infrastructure and settlements.

"Sea level rise is a near term danger: today's communities must make choices not just on the behalf of future generations, but also for themselves."

Topics: UK News, climate change

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey