Around the globe, sea levels are rising.
Greenhouse gas emissions cause our planet to warm, and
Earth’s oceans absorb about 90% of the excess heat.
As ice melts at the poles and high in the mountains, and the molecules
of ocean water expand, the seas are making their way onto land.
Since 1880, sea levels have
risen about 8 to 9 inches. But the seas don’t rise uniformly.
Some places are at higher risk for flooding, and
sea levels are rising faster as time passes. Right now,
sea level is rising about 3.3 millimeters a year, 30
percent faster than in 1992.
Here at NASA, we’re using satellites, like the new Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich,
along with ships and airplanes, to study the processes
driving sea level rise and the effects of rising waters.
Rising Waters: A Warmer World
NASA