MORE THREATS TO GULF OF MEXICO

Leaking oil isn't the only threat to the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding   
coastal communities. Rising sea levels also pose dangers to wetlands   
and habitats of commercially important fish and wildlife, according to   
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 
 
A new research project led by Scott Hagen of the University of Central   
Florida will develop computer models to predict sea level rises and the   
impacts of storms along the Gulf Coast. The study area will range from   
Mississippi to the Florida panhandle, a stretch chosen for its   
relatively pristine ecosystems and existing monitoring infrastructure,   
making it an ideal "sentinel site" for climate change impacts. 
 
The study will produce models that can help ecosystem and natural   
resource managers in their planning for potential sea level rises. The   
model may also help oil spill responders understand the long-term   
effects of the oil on the Gulf's ecosystems.  
SOURCE: NOAA   
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100805_sealevel.html