Rising Sea Levels Spur the Rise of ‘Ghost Forests’ Along East Coast

The rapid rise of sea levels along the mid-Atlantic coast has given rise to an increasing amount of what are known as “ghost forests,” the New York Times reports.

The forests developed their ominous name due to the number of dead and bleached trees left in the wake of rising saltwater marshes, which have been slowly killing oak and other sensitive hardwoods first from the roots up.

Sea levels have been rising as much as 5 millimeters per year in some areas, with a global average of 3.1 millimeters per year, according to the New York Times.

The full NYT report can be found here.