Science Source

Increased threat of tropical cyclones and coastal flooding to New York City during the anthropogenic era

Combines proxy sea level records, downscaled tropical cyclone data sets, and storm surge models to investigate the impacts of rising sea levels and tropical cyclones on coastal inundation in New York City
Finds that the flood risk for New York City due to tropical cyclones and their resultant storm surges has increased significantly during the last millennium
Mean flood heights increased by >1.2 m from ∼A.D. 850 to A.D. 2005 due to rising relative sea levels
Finds there were also increases in the types of tropical cyclones that produce the greatest surges for the region
As a result, the 500-y flood height return periods have fallen to ∼24.4 y throughout the millennium