NASA warns of the rapid rise in water levels in the oceans

Since 1992, the water level in the World Ocean has risen by an average of 7.5 centimeters, in some parts of the world there has been an increase of 22.8 centimeters and more, Forbes reports. The study was conducted using data collected over 23 years by three NASA satellites, and the results were published at the request of the media this Wednesday. Together with the materials provided to journalists, NASA scientists in their press release emphasize that active work is being done in this area and, according to the researchers, the water level in the future may even rise by about a meter.

"Given our knowledge of how the Ocean expands when heated and how melting glaciers affects the increase in the amount of water in the ocean, we can confidently say that the level of the World Ocean will rise another three feet (~ 90 centimeters) or more." , commented on the results of the study Steve Nerem, a scientist from the University of Colorado. “But we do not know how long it will take. Perhaps for a century or more. ”


Video from NASA on raising the level of water in the oceans
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Scientists name three equally significant reasons for raising the water level:

• Increased ocean temperatures;
• Melting ice;
• Reduction in glacier area.

They also note that if the ice sheets at the poles begin to disappear faster, the ratio of the effects of the above causes may change and the process will accelerate, which will lead to an increase in the water level by the predicted values ​​in the coming decades.

“The effects of changing the level of the oceans are already being felt,” says Michael Freilich, head of the Earth Exploration Division, NASA. He noted the floods caused by regular tides in Miami, which had not previously been the norm for the region in the past. In his opinion, rising water levels threaten a number of major cities and entire nations around the world, such as Tokyo. But at the same time, scientists claim that in different parts of the planet the water level behaves differently:

“Sea levels along the west coast of the United States have actually declined over the past 20 years — long-term natural cycles hide the influence of global warming from us,” said Josh Willis, an oceanographer at NASA. “Nevertheless, there are all signs that this picture will change soon. We expect an acceleration in the rate of rise in the level of water in the World Ocean along this part of the coast over the next decade. ”