Global warming of 1.5°C may mean extreme sea level events occur every year rather than every century

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-08-31 01:00

Australia; International

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International scientists, including an Australian, say their computer modeling suggests that even if we limit global warming to 1.5°C, extreme sea level events - triggered by the combination of storm surges, tides and waves.- that are currently expected to hit roughly every century may occur every year by the end of the 21st century in around half of the 7,000 coastal areas they studied. And many of these areas may see annual extreme sea level events even earlier, they warn. The scientists say the areas that appear most vulnerable are in the Tropics, while some northern areas may not face increases in the frequency of these events, even at global warming levels of 5°C.