The Science of Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise

Abstract

Although there is natural variability in climate when measured over millions or billions of years, the speed of climate change has accelerated as a result of human activity. Globally, the impacts of climate change include an increase in the annual mean surface air temperature and changes in rainfall patterns, with some regions getting more rainstorms and others becoming much drier. At a global scale, these rapid changes could result in regional food shortages triggering a massive amount of human migration, putting stress on food production as well as increasing political instability. In Florida, the impacts of climate change are likely to include flooding associated with sea-level rise, an increase in invasive species, damage to the coral reefs, and increased numbers of damaging hurricanes.