Rising Sea Levels Could Flood Naval Academy In Annapolis, Scientists Say
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- The U.S. military is preparing to battle on a new front: rising sea levels.
In the decades ahead, keeping the water out will be the challenge for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.
"Annapolis is one of the places that will see the most higher effects of tidal flooding," said Dr. Astrid Calda, with the Union of Concerned Scientists.
And it won't take a hurricane like Isabel to do it. That storm caused damage not only in town, but left $100-million in damage at the academy.
Now, as polar ice melts and oceans warm and expand--sea levels are rising.
The Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington projected sea level threats at 18 U.S. military installations.
"The Naval Academy being one that's very exposed," says Astrid.
Between now and the end of the century, the academy could lose 10 to 40 percent of its campus to rising water, depending on how high sea levels climb.
"They have lots of protections like sea walls, but a lot more resources are going to be needed," said Astrid.
In a statement to WJZ, the academy says, "We are currently evaluating the different projections, and we will continue to evaluate and collaborate until such time as a plan to address the projections has been formulated."
Many places are threatened by rising sea levels. The reason for focusing on military installations.
"They're very important. Our national security depends on them," says Astrid.
The study estimates the sea level could rise between 4 1/2 and 6 feet at the academy by the end of this century.
