See What The Bronx Could Look Like in 200 Years—Underwater

Could this watery future be a reality for The Bronx?
Could this watery future be a reality for The Bronx? [All map screenshots via Climate Central.]

Although there are many who claim climate change isn’t happening (even in the face of science) and that humans aren’t impacting climate change (even in the face of science), this map of what The Bronx will look like in 200 years with a 2°C increase in temperature globally will sober you up.

If the projections and data continue to hold true, Port Morris will be mostly underwater, along with large swaths of Mott Haven, Melrose, Soundview, Castle Hill, Throggs Neck, City Island, Morris Park, Country Club, Riverdale and yes, even Co-op City.

What does this pose to all the developers snatching up waterfront properties in Mott Haven and Port Morris that are already flood hazards? One thing seems for sure is that if this were to happen, many areas desiring waterfront views, will be getting them.

Castle Hill, Soundview, Throggs Neck, Morris Park, City Island can all be gone within 200 years.
Castle Hill, Soundview, Throggs Neck, Morris Park, City Island can all be gone within 200 years. [All map screenshots via Climate Central.]
According to Curbed:

“But it’s not so easy to laugh off when the image comes from climate change scientists. New data published in Science shows that if the planet warms by 2 degrees Celsius, sea levels will rise about 20 feet. It’s pretty much a given that this will happen, it’s just a matter of when—it could be by the end of the century. A 20-foot rise is no where near Linn’s extreme depiction of a 100-foot rise, but it would still radically alter our coastline. The group Climate Central created an interactive map (h/t Gizmodo) that shows what this would mean for major cities in the United States. In New York, it means that entire neighborhoods would be wiped out and 1.8 million people would be displaced.”

Will these neighborhoods be wiped out within 200 years?
Will these neighborhoods be wiped out within 200 years?  [All map screenshots via Climate Central.]
We won’t be around in 200 years, but we owe it to our future generations to do what we can to prevent the worst case scenario from happening.

Click the map below to zoom in on The Bronx and other areas as well as read the article on Climate Central’s website!
2 °C Warming and Sea Level Rise

Ed García Conde

Ed García Conde is a life-long Bronxite who spends his time documenting the people, places, and things that make the borough a special place in the hopes of dispelling the negative stereotypes associated with The Bronx. His writings are often cited by mainstream media and is often consulted for his expertise on the borough's rich history.