Long-term sea level increases that could have a devastating effect on southern Florida and highly populated coastal areas may be even larger than once thought, a report suggests. Some studies have suggested that melting of ice in Antarctica and other areas could raise sea levels by 16 feet to 17 feet over the long run, a potential threat to coastal areas such as Washington, D.C., New York City and California. However, a report in Friday’s edition of the journal Science warns that factors not previously considered could one day boost that increase to up to 21 feet in some areas.
