Global Warming Could Raise Sea Levels 13 to 20 Feet

"Within the next 100 years, the growing human influence on Earth's climate could lead to a long and irreversible rise in sea levels by eroding the planet's vast polar ice sheets, according to new observations and analysis by several teams of scientists.

One team, using computer models of climate and ice, found that by about 2100, average temperatures could be four degrees higher than today and that over the coming centuries, the oceans could rise 13 to 20 feet â€" conditions last seen 129,000 years ago, between the last two ice ages."

"...Jonathan T. Overpeck of the University of Arizona, a lead author of one of the studies, said the new findings made a strong case for the danger of failing to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that trap heat in a greenhouselike effect.

'If we don't like the idea of flooding out New Orleans, major portions of South Florida, and many other valued parts of the coastal U.S.,' Dr. Overpeck said, 'we will have to commit soon to a major effort to stop most emissions of carbon to the atmosphere.'"