Experts meet in Long Beach to discuss rising sea levels

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Rising sea levels caused by climate change are a growing cause for concern amongst scientists and oceanographers.

On Monday, the Aquarium of the Pacific hosted a panel of experts to address the problem and predict what we could see in the next 100 years.

Dr. Dan Cayan, a research meteorologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, says it may not seem like much, but he says the change could make serious impacts, especially in coastal communities.

"Fifty percent of the population of the world lives along coastal areas, 70 percent in California," said Dr. Jerry Schubel of the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Scientists say rising sea levels are forcing people all over the world to prepare and protect themselves from coastal flooding.

That's the subject of "Sink or Swim," a photography exhibition at the Aquarium, showing the impact of climate change.

Cayan says another potential consequence of the rising levels is giving storms more power when they make landfall.

"They're going to be acting on higher sea levels, the waves are going to encroach farther in shore," Cayan said.

Researchers are also working with cities like Long Beach to put together a climate action plan, including ways to reduce the city's impact on climate change.

"We're all in this together. This is a planet Earth deal, it certainly isn't a Long Beach deal or Southern California deal," said Long Beach City Manager Pat West

The "Sink or Swim" exhibit is on display at the Aquarium of the Pacific until Sept. 15.