The sea level off New Jersey’s coast is up to 12 inches higher than it was in 1950.1 This increase is mostly due to New Jersey’s sinking land, and it’s causing major issues. Solutions in New Jersey can be complicated because as land is sinking, shores are also eroding. The state has many oceanfront communities and countless species of wildlife at risk from sea level rise.2 There are already over 45,000 properties at risk from frequent tidal flooding in New Jersey.3 The state is planning over $2 billion in sea level rise solutions, which include restoration projects, catastrophic flood prevention, and building seawalls.
Sea level rise is speeding up
The sea level around Atlantic City, New Jersey, has risen by 12 inches since 1950. Its speed of rise has accelerated over the last ten years and it’s now rising by over 1 inch every 5 years.1 Scientists know this because the sea level is measured every 6 minutes using equipment like satellites, floating buoys off the coast, and tidal gauges to accurately measure the local sea level as it accelerates and changes.4
SEA LEVEL MEASUREMENT FROM ATLANTIC CITY AREA TIDE GAUGE SINCE 1950