Sea level rise will happen no matter what we do. Even if we stopped all carbon dioxide emissions today, the seas would rise one meter by 2050 and three meters by 2100. Thisnot drought, species extinction, or excessive heat waveswill be the most catastrophic effect of global warming. And it won't simply redraw our coastlinesagriculture, electrical and fiber optic systems, and shipping will be changed forever. As icebound regions melt, new sources of oil, gas, minerals, and arable land will be revealed, as will fierce geopolitical battles over who owns the rights to them.InThe Flooded Earth, species extinction expert Peter Ward describes in intricate detail what our world will look like in 2050, 2100, 2300, and beyonda blueprint for a foreseeable future. Ward also explains what politicians and policymakers around the world should be doing now to head off the worst consequences of an inevitable transformation.

Peter D. Ward is a Professor of Biology and Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is the author of sixteen books, including the highly acclaimed Rare Earth with Donald Brownlee. He appeared in the PBS documentary "Shape of Life" and was the chief scientist for Animal Planet's Animal Armageddon, a multipart series on species extinction. He lives in Seattle, Washington.