Sea Level Rise; Are we all gonna drown? The truth about sea levels is…
Sea Level Rise; Are we all gonna drown? There are a lot of dire predictions on the net about sea level rise. Most of these are based on global warming and melting ice caps yet these are not the major causes of sea level rise. What is?
Currently we are seeing a 2.4mm/year rise in sea levels. Over 10000 years this will equate to just 24 metres.
Sea level rise refers to an increase in the volume of water in the world’s oceans, resulting in an increase in global mean sea level. Sea level rise is usually attributed to global climate change by thermal expansion of the water in the oceans and by melting of Ice sheets and glaciers on land. Melting of floating Ice shelfs or icebergs at sea do not raise sea levels.
Sea level rise at specific locations may be more or less than the global average. Local factors might include tectonic effects, subsidence of the land, tides, currents, storms, etc. Sea level rise is expected to continue for centuries. Because of the slow inertia, long response time for parts of the climate system, it has been estimated that we are already committed to a sea-level rise of approximately 2.3 metres (7.5 ft) for each degree Celsius of temperature rise within the next 2,000 years. IPCC Summary for Policymakers, AR5, 2014, indicated that the global mean sea level rise will continue during the 21st century, very likely at a faster rate than observed from 1971 to 2010. Projected rates and amounts vary. A January 2017 NOAA report suggests a range of GMSL rise of 0.3 – 2.5 m possible during the 21st century.
