Drowning Charleston

The melting of ice caps and glaciers causes sea levels to rise, which has consequences for many facets of our lives. Small increases in sea level can cause disastrous changes in coastal habitats. As more land is inundated, it can flood wetlands, contaminate groundwater supplies and agricultural soil, and destroy valuable habitat forplants and animals alike. The ferocity of storm surges during large storms increases when sea levels are higher. Hundreds of millions of people would be forced to leave their homes and move to areas further inland, and low-lying areas could be lost to the sea.