Airports
Rising Sea Levels, Storm Surges Threaten Airport Runways
Floodwater encroaches on a runway at New York La Guardia Airport in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. (Photo: JetBlue Airways)
Floodwater encroaches on a runway at New York La Guardia Airport in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. (Photo: JetBlue Airways)

Rising sea levels and extreme weather events attributed to global climate change will increase the flood risk to airports and other transportation infrastructure in coastal regions of the U.S., according to the draft report of a government advisory committee. The trend over time will reduce the reliability and capacity of the transportation system, the study warns.