Warming world's rising seas wash away some of South Florida's glitz

By Nick O'Malley
Updated December 22 2014 - 9:13am, first published December 21 2014 - 8:55am
Rising concern: Geologist Harold Wanless takes a stroll through flooded Miami streets.
Rising concern: Geologist Harold Wanless takes a stroll through flooded Miami streets.
Rising concern: Geologist Harold Wanless takes a stroll through flooded Miami streets.
Rising concern: Geologist Harold Wanless takes a stroll through flooded Miami streets.
Rising concern: Geologist Harold Wanless takes a stroll through flooded Miami streets.
Rising concern: Geologist Harold Wanless takes a stroll through flooded Miami streets.
Rising concern: Geologist Harold Wanless takes a stroll through flooded Miami streets.
Rising concern: Geologist Harold Wanless takes a stroll through flooded Miami streets.
Miami's main beach, which is low-lying and flood prone.  Photo: Joe Raedle
Miami's main beach, which is low-lying and flood prone. Photo: Joe Raedle

It's just past sunset and the strip at South Beach, Miami, is pumping. It is the biggest weekend of the year in America's glitziest city. The Art Basel is on, an annual fine art festival that has been overwhelmed by the world's thrillingly wealthy – and the Hollywood stars they like to play with – dropping a few million on trinkets.