The places in Wales forecast to be underwater in future because of climate change

Much of the Welsh capital will be underwater if climate change is not urgently tackled.

The evidence for man made global warming is overwhelming and one of the most devastating results of this, according to scientists, will be rapid sea level rise.

With our long coastline, Wales is particularly vulnerable to these rises and the experts have calculated exactly which parts of the country are most vulnerable.

By how much are sea levels rising?

A report by Climate Central found that if temperatures went up 4°C from pre-industrial levels the seas could rise by as much as 10.8 metres, but the most likely is about nine.

This would submerge the homes of half a billion people (that is the population of Wales 166 times over).

World leaders are currently trying to keep temperatures within 2°C which, though only two degrees less, would keep the amount of people losing their homes to 130 million.

Even so, Wales would be very hard hit.

This image shows how much of Cardiff could be underwater if there was a 4°C or 2°C rise in temperatures.

This map shows how much of Cardiff will be under water if tempertures go up by 4°C (left) or 2°C (Climate Central)

Newport doesn't fare any better...

What about the rest of Wales?

You can use this interactive map to look around Wales (and the world) and see how much sea level rise will impact where you live.

Please note it can take a few second to load.

How long would it take for sea levels to get that high?

It is a good question.

It would not happen overnight. It would be a steady increase with 100 years passing before it reached its highest level.

However, by the time it starts becoming very noticeable, it will be too late. We will be locked in and the rise will be unavoidable.

 

Why does the world getting warmer make sea levels go up?

You might think that with the world getting warmer there would be less ocean, but this is not the case.

The warmer climate makes the seas rise for three reasons.

1. Ice caps melt. Well to be more accurate our massive ice sheets at the poles melt faster than they form from snowfall.
2. The ocean expands. As you probably remember from secondary school chemistry, when things warm they expand. The seas are no exception.
3. High altitude ice. As the planet warms the ice at altitude like on Everest will melt at a much higher point.