Three Working Groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report a 1 meter (3.2 feet) increase in global sea levels in the past decades. This phenomenon has been attributed to the identification of significant factors contributing to changes in various extreme weather and climate events.
1M Increase in Global Sea-Level Due to Ocean Warming Has Devastating Effects on Many Coastlines Worldwide, Expert Warns
Rising Sea Levels Are Result of Ocean Warming
On the website Meta Fact, the moderator asked some climate experts to share their insights regarding this new report and show the numbers that will be significantly affected by it. One of these experts is Martine Lizotte, an expert from Université Laval in Oceanography.
Lizotte cited a recent study, titled "Strauss, B.H. New Elevation Data Triple Estimates of Global Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Flooding" published in Nature Communications, to explain how ocean warming or thermal expansion has caused the rise of sea levels.
Lizotte wrote that the rising global sea levels are a result of multiple factors, including ocean warming, the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as smaller glaciers on land. Additionally, a decrease in land and reservoir water storage contributes to this phenomenon.
The impacts of rising sea levels vary depending on the location and topography of coastal areas. The recent study found that approximately 230 million people currently reside within 1 meter of sea level, making them more vulnerable to risks such as flooding, storm surges, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources used for drinking and agriculture in coastal regions.
The costs associated with relocating these millions of coastal inhabitants are extremely high. Consequently, adaptation strategies may involve the construction of flood barriers, such as levees, dikes, and seawalls to protect critical infrastructure, as well as implementing floodproofing measures such as elevating essential equipment and foundation systems.
Megan Cook, an expert from Ocean Exploration Trust in Oceanography, supported Lizotte and answered in Meta Fact that the 1-meter rise in sea level could indeed cause big changes in many coastlines around the world. Cook added that even a small increase could have a devastating effect on coastal habitats and communities, such as erosion, flooding, contamination, and loss of habitat.
READ ALSO: 20th Century Sea-Level Rise on East Coast Fastest in 2,000 Years
How Sea Level Is Measured
According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate.gov website, sea level is measured either through tide gauges or satellite altimeters.
Tide gauge stations have been monitoring global high and low tides for over a century using various sensors. Scientists can construct a worldwide average and account for seasonal fluctuations by evaluating data from these locations. Since the 1990s, sea level has also been measured from space using radar altimeters, which analyze radar pulse return speed and intensity to determine sea surface height.
To assess the contribution of thermal expansion to sea level rise, scientists measure sea surface temperature through buoys, satellites, and water samples. Robotic systems and research ships are used to measure temperatures at different ocean depths.
Scientists also employ direct measurements of melt rate and glacier elevation, as well as satellite-based measurements of gravity field shifts to estimate the impact of water movement from land to ocean on sea level rise. These methods provide valuable insights into the factors influencing sea level changes.
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