Study: Rising Global Temperatures Spur Steepest Sea Level Rise In 2,100 Years
Reconstructing sea level history for the first time The seas are rising at a faster rate right now than at any point since at least the era of Julius Caesar, and there is a direct link between this increase and changes in global surface temperatures, according to a new study. Rising sea levels could have major impacts on not just marine ecosystems, but the entire planet, as coastal areas are swamped by encroaching waters. The findings will help improve climate models and scientists' understanding of future sea level changes due to human-caused climate change. Until now, studies of sea level rise have been largely limited to satellite data, comprising a couple of decades, and tide-gauge records, comprising about 300 years. Sea level increase is one of the most threatening aspects of climate change. Increases in global average temperatures will cause ice sheets to melt, gradually increasing the average height of the oceans and...