A new Virginia Tech study shows that rising sea levels are making the Chesapeake Bay far more vulnerable to severe flooding. Researchers modeled thousands of potential storm scenarios and found that by 2050, a predicted 17-inch rise in sea level will do more than just lift the water line—it will actually reduce the bay's natural ability to cushion storm surges by up to 9 percent. Coupled with the fact that land around the lower bay is naturally sinking, future storms will push water much higher and further inland. Slow-moving, intense hurricanes will hit coastal Virginia hardest, driving water levels up by an extra 3 feet around the mouth of the bay and along the James and York rivers.

The scientific evidence for human-caused global warming is stronger than ever, according to a major new review – despite a United States government report questioning the science.

The study shows that more than three decades of climate “fingerprint” research has provided overwhelming evidence that greenhouse gas emissions are driving changes throughout Earth’s climate system.