Global sea level rise continues to accelerate

Satellite data from NASA continues to show that global sea level rise is accelerating. NASA satellites began measuring sea surface height starting back in 1993.

Tremendous amounts of fresh water continue to pour into the world's oceans as the massive, land-based ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica continue to melt due to global warming.

Increasing thermal expansion of sea water due to warming of the oceans is also playing a significant role in sea level rise.

Image courtesy NASA.

At the start of the satellite-measuring recordings back in 1993, the global sea surface was rising at an average rate of 0.08 inches per year, or 0.20 cm/year. Today, the world's oceans are rising at a rate of 0.17 inches/year or 0.44 cm/year, according to the data.

The authors note that during La Niña years (we just completed three consecutive La Niña episodes) global sea level does not rise as high compared to neutral or El Niño episodes. El Niño conditions are expected to return during the second half of this year.

Unfortunately, the acceleration of sea level rise is expected to continue through midcentury and is now projected to reach 0.26 inches/year or 0.66 cm/year by 2050. This is equivalent to having the ocean level increasing at least one inch every four years, which will have devastating impacts on low-lying coastal communities.