NYC plans for rising water levels

Sea level may rise faster near New York than at most other densely populated ports due to local effects of gravity, water density and ocean currents, according to four new forecasts of melting ice sheets

Storm surges from hurricanes are also a concern. Much important infrastructure for NYC is underground and thus subject to flooding. Their subways already pump out 14 million gallons of water per day.

You’d think sea levels would be the same everywhere, but not so.

Generally, sea level today varies from place to place. The North Atlantic normally is two feet lower than the northern Pacific, because Atlantic sea water is colder, denser and saltier. This summer, weakened currents and persistent winds, for instance, caused sea level along the U.S. eastern seaboard to be two feet higher than normal.

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