If you've got a place on the coast . . . be worried. Global warming threatens your home.

The primary threat to coastal homes will come from an increased likelihood of severe flooding. Over the next 50 to 100 years, global warming will cause the seas to rise by as much as two-and-a-half feet, which on some of Florida's gently sloping beaches could mean a loss of some 200 to 250 feet or more of beachfront. During storms, these higher sea levels will intensify the damage wrought by waves crashing onto Florida's shorelines, causing flooding that is more severe and reaches farther inland. What's more, rising seas will permit storms to overtake barrier islands, robbing coastal areas of natural protections against severe wind and waves. Global warming will also change weather patterns, creating more intense rainfall and aggravating flooding still more.

Photos: Gary Braasch