NASA has released a new analysis showing that global sea levels have risen over 10 centimeters, or about four inches, since 1993. This rate is increasing and surpasses previous expectations. According to Josh Willis, researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, “Every year is a little bit different, but what’s clear is that the ocean continues to rise, and the rate of rise is getting faster and faster.”
While four inches of sea level rise may seem insignificant to some, scientists project that sea levels will rise by 10-12 inches along the US coast over the next three decades. This rate could increase to several feet by the century’s end if global warming continues unchecked.
The main contributors to sea level rise are melting ice and thermal expansion. Melting glaciers and ice sheets, particularly in Greenland and Antarctica, account for two-thirds of this rise. As the seas absorb more heat, they expand, contributing to the problem.
The rate of sea level rise is expected to increase in the coming years, with Earth’s melting ice sheets playing an outsized role. However, there is uncertainty about how much sea levels will rise by the century’s end due to humanity’s unprecedented impact on global warming.
Ultimately, the amount of sea level rise experienced by future generations depends on the choices made by humans.
Source: https://mashable.com/article/nasa-report-earth-sea-level-rise