The Rising Tide Problem

Sea Levels on the Rise — Is there Anything We Can Do About It?

Over the past century, the burning of fossil fuels and other human and natural activities has released enormous amounts of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. These emissions have caused the Earth's surface temperature to rise, and the oceans absorb about 80 percent of this additional heat. 

The oceans are becoming a repository for almost all the Earth’s excess heat, driving up sea levels and threatening coastlines, according to a draft of the most comprehensive United Nations report addressing climate science. 

The oceans absorb about 80 percent of this additional heat...

Consequences

When sea levels rise rapidly, as they have been doing, even a small increase can have devastating effects on coastal habitats. As seawater reaches farther inland, it can cause destructive erosion, flooding of wetlands, contamination of aquifers and agricultural soils, and lost habitat for fish, birds, and plants. 

When large storms hit land, higher sea levels mean bigger, more powerful storm surges that can strip away everything in their path. 

In addition, hundreds of millions of people live in areas that will become increasingly vulnerable to flooding. Higher sea levels would force them to abandon their homes and relocate. Low-lying islands could be submerged completely. 

Storm Surge During Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines

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Most predictions say the warming of the planet will continue and likely will accelerate. Oceans will likely continue to rise as well, but predicting the amount is an inexact science. A recent study says we can expect the oceans to rise between 2.5 and 6.5 feet (0.8 and 2 meters) by 2100, enough to swamp many of the cities along the U.S. East Coast. More dire estimates, including a complete meltdown of the Greenland ice sheet, push sea level rise to 23 feet (7 meters), enough to submerge London and Los Angeles.



References:

1. http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2013/10/what-the-new-ipcc-report-says-about-sea-level-rise/
   
2. http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-sea-level-rise/