These Spanish holiday destinations could be ‘underwater’ by 2100 – hotspots mapped | World | News
The rising of sea levels is one of the threats coming with climate change and threatens many areas worldwide.
Among them, fresh research suggested, are several coastal towns and cities in Spain beloved by British holidaymakers.
The US space and aeronautics agency NASA has created a map showing sea level projections based on data collected by satellites and ground-based instruments by the International Climate Panel as well as computer analyses and simulations.
The map shows several areas of the Spanish coastline, as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands, are likely to be affected by rising sea levels by the end of the century under the SSP3-7.0 scenario – which would result from no additional climate policies in a world where nationalism drives legislation and focuses on regional and local issues rather than global ones.
The impact this concerning phenomenon will have depends on the type of coastline.
A cliff is unlikely to be hugely affected by a 15-inch rise of sea level, while an increase by even just a few inches could sweep away a significant chunk of the coast if it is made of a beach of low relief.
The NASA map suggests several beloved holiday destinations in the southern region of Andalusia stand out when it comes to possible issues linked to rising sea levels.
Malaga could see the sea rising by 24 inches by the end of the century. Almeria, also visited by tens of thousands of Britons every year, would experience similar sea levels rising by 2100 – 23.6 inches.
Valencia could find itself in an even worse situation, as it is forecasted to experience a 27.9-inch sea levels rise in less than 80 years.
Barcelona, visited every year by millions of tourists, is expected to see a rise in sea levels of 29.95 inches by 2100.
Similar challenging figures are seen when analysing the Balearics and Canaries. Palma de Majorca is projected to experience a 25.9-inch sea level rise under the SSP3-7.0 scenario, while Santa Cruz de Tenerife could see the sea level rising by 31.8 inches by the end of the century.
Unrelated research by the British Geological Survey said on the impacts of climate change: “A rise in sea levels will also have an impact on coastal and shallow marine plants and animals will be affected, for example mangroves and coral reefs.
“In countries with large areas of coastal lowland, there will be a dual risk of river floods and coastal flooding, which will reduce the area for living and working. Coastal defences will need strengthening and river levées will require developing.”