Global warming will result in the sea level along southern Guangdong rising 30 centimeters by 2030, threatening some 42 percent of the Pearl River Delta, an official study has warned.

The rising sea level will result in the displacement of nearly 1 million people and cause direct economic losses of 133.2 billion yuan (US$16 billion), according to the study.

Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhuhai's Doumen county were the three places most vulnerable to flooding.

The study found that the sea level was rising 2 to 2.5 millimeters each year.

This, combined with rising river heights and land subsidence, would raise the sea level 10mm a year, leaving 42 per cent of the delta below sea level by 2030.

The eight-year study was conducted by 100 scientists from 13 research units, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Academy of Sciences.

A report of the study has been submitted to the relevant provincial and municipal authorities to allow planning for dykes and other anti-flood measures.

The scientists have made five major proposals in an attempt to solve the problems caused by rising sea levels.

These include raising the high-tidemark and building and consolidating dykes according to the revised tidemark.

(Shenzhen Daily July 29, 2003)