A panel of NASA scientists has revealed that sea levels worldwide rose an average of nearly 3 inches (8 cm) since 1992 due to warming waters and melting ice. In 2013, a UN panel predicted sea levels would rise from 1 to 3 feet (0.3 to 0.9 meters) by the end of the century. Sea levels are rising faster than they did 50 years ago. The changes are not uniform. Some areas showed sea levels rising more than 9 inches (25 cm) and other regions, such as along the U.S. West Coast, actually falling, according to an analysis of 23 years of satellite data.
Scientists believe ocean currents and natural cycles are temporarily offsetting a sea level rise in the Pacific and the U.S. West Coast could see a significant hike in sea levels in the next 20 years. Low-lying regions, such as Florida, are highly vulnerable. More than 150 million people, mostly in Asia, live within 3 feet (1 meter) of the sea.
The major reasons behind the sea level rise are,
- Expansion of warmer ocean water
- Ice loss from the polar ice sheets
- Melting mountain glaciers
- The Indian sub-continent may lose close to 14,000 sq.km. of land with the rise of a one metre of sea level due to climate change.
- Under the 1m sea level rise scenario, the Godavari-Krishna mangrove eco-region is predicted to lose more than a quarter of its area.
- Out of the 22 coastal conservation areas, nine will be spared from the effects of marine intrusion under 1m sea-level rise.
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