World’s sea level rise scares NASA scientists

NASA showed off a visualization on Friday 16 that represents the rise in the level of Earth’s oceans over the past 2500 years. The animated images are based on real data from tide gauges (sea level meters), as well as altimetry from TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, OSTM/Jason-2, Jason-3 and Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich.

Produced by NASA’s renowned Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS), the animation simulates rising water levels from the perspective of a boat hold. The records range from 1993, when the satellites started making these recordings, to February 2022.

In the video’s description, it says, “When played back on an 85-inch 4K screen, the measurement marks in the video are accurate to the real world.” When you consider the volume of water in question, the increase may seem frightening as 9.85 centimeters, We have an “unprecedented rise in the last 2,500 years,” NASA says.

What are the effects of rising sea levels on Earth?

There are at least two immediate causes of rising water levels in the planet’s oceans, driven by human-induced climate change. The first is the absorption of heat by the waters, and the second is the melting of glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica, which rapidly liquefies, filling the seas.

The impact of these changes can be devastating. Not only will coastal areas and low-lying areas be affected, but rising sea levels can cause storms and flooding inland. Consequences on human settlements, from displacement of people to damage to infrastructure and economic activities in activities such as tourism, fishing and shipping.

Some of these effects already occurring:

• Floods: The passage of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, aggravated by rising sea levels, caused widespread flooding in New York City that displaced thousands of people and caused billions of dollars in damage;
• Erosion: The US city of Miami Beach has lost nearly three feet of beach since the 1950s, this area will double by 2050;
• Salt water inlet: The problem affecting the aquifers has already reached some countries such as Bangladesh and parts of the USA such as Florida and California;
• Biodiversity loss: The problem is mainly occurring in coral reefs, one of the most important ecosystems on Earth, responsible for producing significant amounts of oxygen on the planet.