Climate Change: Sea Level Rise
Sea level rise is an increase in the height of the ocean's surface relative to the land at a particular location. The expansion of warm ocean waters and the melting of polar ice are the main causes of the current rise in sea level. Both of these factors are the result of increasing human greenhouse gas emissions. If global warming exceeds 1.5 to 2 ° C, irreversible impacts such as melting ice and rising sea levels will have a significant impact on human and environmental sustainability.
Over the past century, the average sea height has increased more steadily, less than a centimeter each year, but these little additions add up! Today, sea level is on average 5 to 8 inches (1320 centimeters) higher than in 1900. This is a fairly significant change. In the previous 2000 years, sea level has not hadn't changed much. The rate of sea level rise has also increased over time. Between 1900 and 1990, studies show that the sea level rose between 1.2 mm and 1.7 mm per year on average. By 2000, this rate had increased to around 3.2 mm per year and the rate in 2016 was estimated at 3.4 mm per year. Sea level is expected to rise even faster by the end of the century.
Over the past century, the average sea height has increased more steadily, less than a centimeter each year, but these little additions add up! Today, sea level is on average 5 to 8 inches (1320 centimeters) higher than in 1900. This is a fairly significant change. In the previous 2000 years, sea level has not hadn't changed much. The rate of sea level rise has also increased over time. Between 1900 and 1990, studies show that the sea level rose between 1.2 mm and 1.7 mm per year on average. By 2000, this rate had increased to around 3.2 mm per year and the rate in 2016 was estimated at 3.4 mm per year. Sea level is expected to rise even faster by the end of the century.
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The Arctic could be Ice-Free
in Summer by
2040
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Human Impacts
Scientists agree that the climate change we are seeing today is largely caused by human activity and that it is climate change that is causing sea level to rise. The sea began to rise in the late 1800s, shortly after we started burning coal, gas, and other fossil fuels for energy. When burned, these high-energy fuel sources send carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide absorbs heat from the sun and traps it, heating the atmosphere and the planet. As the planet warms, sea levels rise for two reasons. -Warmer temperatures melt ice on land, such as glaciers and ice caps, and meltwater flows into the ocean to raise sea level. Second, warm water expands and takes more more space than colder water, increasing the volume of water in the sea.
Rising sea levels will hit coasts harder. Over the next several centuries, the land that is now home to between 470 and 760 million coastal inhabitants will be inundated by rising sea levels associated with a 4 degree Celsius warming that will occur if we do not reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Much of this population lives in cities. Rising sea levels are already making storms more dangerous, causing more flooding and damage in crowded areas. And it will affect different parts of the world differently, with some parts of the planet being particularly affected. |
