Picture This: U.S. Cities Under 12 Feet of Sea Level Rise

By Climate Central

Maps are one way to understand what collapse of West Antarctic glaciers could eventually mean. Photos show it another way.

In 2013, Climate Central shared some of its sea level rise mapping data with artist Nickolay Lamm so that he could develop photorealistic images of U.S. city scenes under different future scenarios. One scenario was 12 feet of sea level rise — right in the middle of the range now predicted due to the collapse of key Antarctic glaciers under way. Here is what some classic American city scenes would look like today with that much extra ocean.

THE JEFFERSON MEMORIALCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

OCEAN DRIVE, MIAMICredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

HARVARD CAMPUSCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

THE STATUE OF LIBERTYCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

BOSTON HARBOR HOTELCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

BACK BAY BOSTONCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

THE CITADEL, CHARLESTONCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

CRISSY FIELD, SAN FRANCISCOCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

UP CLOSE: CRISSY FIELD, SAN FRANCISCOCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

VENICE BEACH BOARDWALKCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

VENICE BEACHCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

AT&T PARK, SAN FRANCISCOCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTERCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central

SAN DIEGO CORONADO ISLANDCredit: Nickolay Lamm. Data: Climate Central