Scientists have discovered a rare and detailed look at how sea levels rose during the early Holocene epoch, about 11,700 years ago. A recent study published in the journal Nature provides a clearer picture of how much water was added to the oceans and how quickly this happened.
Researchers analyzed layers of ancient peat and borehole samples from the seabed, reconstructing sea-level changes with remarkable precision. Their findings show that sea levels did not rise steadily but had sudden surges – two in particular – that transformed the landscape in dramatic ways.
The end of the last ice age triggered a global transformation, with glaciers shrinking and meltwater entering the oceans slowly. However, vast quantities were released at times, contributing to rapid rises in recorded history. One such event was a catastrophic drainage from Lake Agassiz-Ojibway, which pushed sea levels higher than ever before.
These rapid events reshaped coastlines, submerged settlements, and forced human populations to adapt or move. The study identifies two major pulses of rapid sea-level rise, one around 10,300 years ago and another at 8,300 years ago, with waters rising at rates exceeding one meter per century – comparable to the worst-case projections for the future.
The current study refines earlier estimates of sea-level rise between 11,000 and 3,000 years ago, narrowing down the total rise to approximately 38 meters. The updated figure provides crucial insight into how Earth’s climate system responds to rapid warming.
The findings from this research are a message from a world that no longer exists, warning us of what happens when ice melts too fast and seas rise unchecked. This study is not just about the past but also a glimpse into our future, highlighting the need for us to listen and prepare for the impacts of current climate change.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-did-sea-levels-rise-after-the-last-ice-age-alarming-new-clues-revealed