New Orleans under Water

The long-term habitability of New Orleans depends on several factors, including the effectiveness of its flood control systems, the rate of sea-level rise caused by global warming, and the ability of its residents and infrastructure to adapt to changing conditions.

While the levees have been repaired since Hurricane Katrina, there are concerns that they may not be able to withstand the increasing frequency and intensity of storms caused by climate change. Additionally, the city is sinking due to geological subsidence, and rising sea levels will exacerbate the risk of flooding.

According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications in 2021, the combination of sea-level rise and land subsidence is projected to put New Orleans at risk of flooding from even minor storms within the next few decades. The study also suggests that New Orleans could be uninhabitable by the end of the century if carbon emissions continue to rise at their current rate and if no additional action is taken to protect the city.

However, it’s worth noting that the fate of New Orleans is not set in stone. Local and national governments can take steps to mitigate the risks of flooding, such as investing in better infrastructure, strengthening building codes, and relocating residents from areas that are most at risk. Additionally, individuals and communities can take action to reduce carbon emissions and support efforts to address climate change.

In summary, the long-term habitability of New Orleans is uncertain, and much depends on the actions taken to address the risks of flooding and climate change.

Astronomical and geological evidence indicates that the Universe is approximately 13,820 million years old[42], and our solar system is about 4,567 million years old. Earth’s Moon formed 4,450 million years ago, just 50 million years after the Earth’s formation. Because the composition of the rocks retrieved from the Moon by the Apollo missions is very similar to rocks from the Earth, it is thought that the Moon formed as a result of a collision between the young Earth and a Mars-sized body, sometimes called Theia, which accreted at a Lagrangian point 60° ahead or behind the Earth. A cataclysmic meteorite bombardment (the Late Heavy Bombardment) of the Moon and the Earth 3,900 million years ago is thought to have been caused by impacts of planetesimals which were originally beyond the Earth, but whose orbits were destabilized by the migration of Jupiter and Saturn during the formation of the solar system. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Global Surveyor have found evidence that the Borealis basin in the northern hemisphere of Mars may have been created by a colossal impact with an object 2,000 kilometers in diameter at the time of the Late Heavy Bombardment.