Smerconish poll of the day: Will US map be the same in 50 years? Thoughts?

[misanthrope]

35. The map you posted above has large errors

I couldn't find it in the Forbes link you supplied. There were other depictions but not this particular illustration.

It appears to be a map that solely colored entire counties that would be affected by sea level rise, not areas that are below a certain elevation. According to long-known figures posted on USGS.gov, it's estimated world sea levels would rise roughly 230 feet above current levels.

Between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this map shows areas tinted blue that are mountainous regions with peaks at more than 3,000 feet in elevation. Conversely, it has California's Central Valley untouched, although a great portion of it lies at less than 200-feet elevation -- much of it less than 100-feet -- and is connected directly to San Francisco Bay.

Same for Oregon. Sea level rise will follow the Columbia River eastward and head down its gorge. It will also use the Willamette River to inundate much of historic Portland and intrude into the Willamette Valley. That said, it won't cover the majority of the valley as this shows, or Oregon's Coastal Range, or the Western Hills or the entirety of eastern Portland, or intruding into the Cascade Range in Clackamas County.

North of Alabama's Mobile Bay, it shows entire counties in blue which only contain portions below 230-feet elevation.

The blue tinge extends farther up the Hudson Valley than it should, over the Hudson Highlands and over part of the Catskills. Meanwhile, it shows little oceanic intrusion along the St. Lawrence River on New York's northern edge.

A curious map altogether. Not saying it isn't something to be concerned about, but this illustration isn't giving accurate information.