OK, so Atlantis might not have really existed, but you all get the idea – at the moment, Earth is facing a century of huge sea level rise, regardless of whether we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions or not, not to mention more powerful storms. But are we adequately prepared? The latest episode of MinuteEarth looks at what it would take to help us avoid a Waterworld scenario.
Sea level rise may not sound that scary, but the oceans can be pretty powerful. Back in 1362, a storm named The Great Drowning of Men wiped out a string of European settlements, and killed 25,000 people – a big chunk of the population at the time.
Since then, low-lying countries such as the Netherlands have been working on strategies to keep themselves safe from rising seas and flooding, including creating an ambitious series of storm surge barriers that are among the largest moveable human made objects in the world, as the video explains.
But with seas projected to rise 1 metre in the next 90 years, and 3 metres more in the following century (at least according to one line of scientific thought), it's going to take a lot more than that to stay dry.
So what are our options? Scientists are now working on creative solutions, including 'thirsty' concrete that's capable of soaking up 600 litres of water per square metre every minute and funnelling it away. And engineers are designing floating homes and shopping centres.
But some of the best advances are coming from the data collected by satellites above the Earth's surface, as well as a return to some of nature's engineering strategies, such as mangroves and salt marshes.
Watch the video to find out more and get inspired about the amazing things scientists are coming up with to combat this global challenge. And just remember, the myth of Atlantis had to come from somewhere.