Airports located well above sea level will be the main aviation beneficiaries of rising global temperatures and higher sea levels, two professors have claimed.

Professors Richard Dawson and Aaron Yesudian of Newcastle University’s School of Engineering have assessed more than 14,000 airports world wide on the likelihood of flooding, being partially submerged, the impact of 'extreme sea levels' and how the current standard of flood protection would impact flights.

 

The researchers said nearly 270 airports around the world are in danger due to rising sea levels. 

 

A global temperature rise of two degrees Celsius (which the Paris Agreement on climate change aims to prevent), would see 100 airports 'below sea level' and 364 airports at risk of flooding. 

 

And if the Paris Agreement fails and the global mean temperature increases by more than two degrees Celsius, as many as 572 airports will be at risk by 2100, they said.