"Vulnerability of Coastal Cities to Near-Term Climate Change and Sinking Land"
A new climate study by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) using satellite data predicts that more than 67,000 people along the Eastern Seaboard live in communities exposed to rising sea levels, hurricanes, and other hazards that could permanently change or erode the landscape of the coast in the next decade. The study also identifies at least 45 seaports where the coastline could be permanently altered due to hazards like rising seas and erosion, potentially disrupting operations. Rising sea levels and high tide flooding pose significant threats to major port cities like Boston, Baltimore, and New York, with projections indicating a substantial increase in flooding days by 2050. It is estimated that it would cost billions to elevate East Coast ports to accommodate rising seas and flooding, and the Biden administration has announced a federal grant program to fund capital improvement projects at select shipping terminals.