Hurricanes are a constant danger along the Texas coast, but researchers are studying another threat that is far more ominous for coastal cities.
Climate change has been causing a sea level rise over the last century faster than any comparable period in the last 2800 years, according to a 2017 sea level report from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association.
With the potential for rapid ice melting in Greenland and Antarctica, the rise isn't expected to subside anytime soon. In a worst-case scenario, researchers predict an average sea level rise of more than 8 feet by 2100, according to the report.
CLIMATE CHANGE: Map shows how climate change will affect Houston 60 years from now
The means Galveston, Texas City and other coastal communities in Texas could be under water by the end of the century, according to a Google Earth plug-in that allows people to visualize those extreme scenarios.
Climate Central, a nonprofit studying the impacts of climate change, used NOAA data to create the application. They highlighted several major cities that could be completely under water in the extreme scenario, including New York City, Miami and Boston.
The map also reflects rising sea level in Galveston Bay and in rivers around Houston-area cities further inland.
William Sweet, an NOAA oceanographer who coordinated the sea level report, told USA Today that the worst-case scenario is possible but "probably very unlikely."
It's also a situation "that we hope never occurs," Sweet said.
>>> Click through the gallery to see how the sea-level rise would impact cities along the Texas coast.
Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | email@example.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.