The Rise of the Sea Level Is Accelerating

The previous estimates of the amount of the sea level rise in this century weren't particularly precise: the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in 2001, projected that the global average sea level would rise by between 9 and 88 cm between 1990 and 2100.

In the attempt to scale down the uncertainty, a team of Australian researchers have analyzed the available tidal records dating back to 1870. Their results have shown a clear acceleration of the rise in the sea level:
- Over the entire period since 1870, the average rate of rise was 1.44 mm per year
- Over the 20th Century it was 1.7 mm per year
- Since 1950 it was 1.75 mm per year.

The study projects that, at current rates of acceleration, sea levels could rise during this century between 28 and 34 cm. This study of the historical record, which is the first of its kind, supports the climatic models which have also predicted this kind of acceleration and projected similar rises of the sea level (see for example this news).

Except maybe for the surfers, this kind of change is not exactly welcomed by anyone. Dr. John Church, one of the authors of the study, told AP:

"It means there will be increased flooding of low-lying areas when there are storm surges. It means increased coastal erosion on sandy beaches; we're going to see increased flooding on island nations."

The main cause of the rise in the sea level is the melting of the Antarctic ice. This melting is triggered by global warming, which in turn is increased by the emissions in greenhouse gases.
Dr Church said: "We do have to reduce our emissions but we also have to recognize climate change is happening, and we have to adapt as well."

Photo credits: Lucie Pa��zkov�