Rising Seas

Rising Seas: The Facts

The world’s oceans are rising at an unprecedented rate due to human-caused climate change, and the resulting impacts are already being felt by coastal communities around the globe. Sea level rise is a global problem caused by the increased emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These emissions cause the Earth’s average temperature to rise, which in turn causes the oceans to warm and expand. Additionally, melting ice sheets and glaciers contribute fresh water to the ocean, further increasing its volume.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global mean sea level rose by about 8 inches during the 20th century. The rate of sea level rise has nearly doubled since 1993, and is now rising at a rate of approximately 1 inch per decade. If current trends continue, sea levels could rise by as much as 6 feet by 2100 – putting many coastal communities at risk of flooding and other impacts associated with higher water levels.

While sea level rise may seem like a distant threat, its effects are already being felt in many parts of the world. Flooding from high tides and storm surges is becoming more common in coastal areas, especially during extreme weather events like hurricanes or typhoons. In addition to direct damage from flooding, saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers can contaminate drinking water supplies and damage crops. As sea levels continue to rise, these impacts will become increasingly severe and widespread.

adaptation strategies will be necessary to protect people and infrastructure from rising seas. Coastal communities will need to implement plans for managing flood risk, such as building seawalls or elevating structures out of harm’s way. Water managers will need to find ways to reduce saltwater intrusion into freshwater systems. And all stakeholders – including government agencies, businesses, NGOs, and individual citizens – will need to play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow down the pace of sea level rise.

Rising seas are one of the most serious threats posed by climate change, but they are not inevitable – we have the power to prevent them through collective action