Global warming is causing ocean water to expand and glaciers and ice caps to melt, resulting in sea level rise.  Scientists predict that global warming will result in increasing sea-level rise in the Gulf of Mexico.  In fact, a rise in sea level ranging from over 8 to 20 inches is projected by 2100.  According to the Bush Administration's U.S. Climate Action Report, sea-level rise could swallow a sizable chunk of the Gulf coast and increase the flooding and damage to low lying coastal communities caused by storm surges associated with tropical storms and hurricanes.

Why?  First, many areas along the Gulf coast are low lying (close to or below sea level). As sea level rises, these areas will be occasionally or permanently inundated.  Second, most coastal plants are adapted to a certain level of salinity.  As sea level rises it changes salinity levels which can kill certain coastal plant species (i.e. freshwater marshes, mangroves, cypress cabbage palm and red cedar). Although some of these habitats can migrate inland to avoid changing salinity levels, as the rate of sea-level accelerates and coastal development increases, the ability of these plant species to migrate will decline. This will result in increasing loss of coastal wetlands and other critical habitats, as these areas transition to open water.