Sea Level Rise Will Claim World Heritage Sites GeoBeatsNews
go to original March 8, 2014

A new study says that the rising sea levels caused by climate change will eventually submerge the Statue of Liberty. Also claimed will be about a fifth of the 720 Unesco World Heritage sites.

Landmarks considered particularly vulnerable are the tower of Pisa, the Sydney Opera House, and Westminster Abbey.

Entire historical cities are at risk as well, and those named most likely to be covered by water include St. Petersburg, Russia and the Italian city of Naples.

The loss of the cities and landmarks will take about 2 thousand years, but signs of their disappearance will probably be witnessed in this century.

In some cases it's because sea level rises in the areas are already accelerating. In others, it's due to the fact that the land itself is low lying.

The researchers calculations are based on a continued trend of global warming.

They emphasize that even if the atmospheric temperature increase stops, its effects will continue to be felt as the ocean's absorption of heat and melting of ice will go on for some time after.

Recommended is that flood-defense actions be put in place sooner rather than later.

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