New York or New Venice?
A POWERFULLY IRRESISTIBLE MESSAGE
Is this scenario possible?
Yes. Several reasons point out in that direction. First off, rising waters is only one manifestation of global warming. At the UN Conference (COP21) in Paris in December 2016, 195 nations signed an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that would limit to 2°C (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) global warming. That's what the "two°" means.
The IPCC, an intergovernmental panel of experts on climate change, predicted an average ocean increase of 1 meter by 2100: their model underestimated the melting of the ice. For James Hansen, these 2°C would still remain dangerous because it integrates into its recent models the ice melting: it estimates an increase of 5 to 9 meters by 2080.
This rise, associated with a storm surges (such as Hurricane Sandy in New York in 2012), would easily allow for the same flooding condition presented in the film. You can find here the entire James Hansen’s case study.
The second reason would be also dramatic. The mountain of the volcano Cumbre Vieja on the island of La Palma in the Canaries threatens to collapse. The collapse could create a mega-tsunami with a 650 meters (2,130 feet) wave. But this geological phenomenon could happen in several thousand years. Or tomorrow. Let’s keep it in mind. Explore more – in English and French
NEW YORK CITY AND HURRICANE SANDY IN 2012: A REAL EXAMPLE
If you are interested in learning more about Superstorm Sandy, click here.
DIVE DEEPER. LITERALLY.
THE FIRST 36 HOURS
A documentary by Jeff Panilla