The shifting shoreline of Manhattan Island creates a playable backdrop for projected impacts of sea level rise by 2100 - modeled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Sea level rise is primarily the result of global ice melt and thermal expansion (warming waters that expand) in our oceans. The sea level around Battery Park in New York City has risen nearly 9 inches since 1950. Over the last ten years, the speed of the rise has accelerated, now rising 1 inch every 7-8 years. These rising waters pose a significant risk to all New York residents as storm surges combined with rising sea levels can lead to significant flooding, endangering the health and safety of communities throughout NYC, and cause catastrophic damage to city infrastructure and the built environment.