NASA: Sea levels rose unexpectedly sharply last year
It is well known that sea levels are rising worldwide as a result of climate change. Last year, however, the increase was unexpectedly large, according to NASA.
The Pacific under the ISS.
(Image: NASA)
Global sea levels rose significantly more than expected in 2024. This was determined by the US space agency NASA and is 0.59 cm instead of the expected 0.43 cm. The main reason for this was the warming of the oceans, which caused the water to expand. Melted ice from glaciers and ice sheets was therefore responsible for a smaller part of the increase. Overall, the sea level data collected by satellites confirms the predictions that sea level rise is accelerating as a result of man-made global warming. Since 1993, the global sea level has risen by 10.1 cm, NASA adds.
Rise is accelerating
After 2024 was the warmest year on record, the expanding water masses in the oceans have joined in, explains NASA's Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer. Her team explains that melting ice masses have always been responsible for two thirds of the sea level rises over the past two decades. This means that only one third of the previous rises were due to the expansion of the ocean water itself. In 2024, this ratio has now been reversed and the expansion now accounts for two thirds of the rise. Research therefore assumes that sea levels are rising at an ever faster rate.
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The fact that last year was the first year in human history in which global temperatures were more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels was already announced by Europe's Climate Change Service in mid-January. In addition to man-made climate change as the main driver, the climate phenomenon El Niño also played a role. Overall, the global average temperature was therefore already 1.6 degrees Celsius above the average temperature for the years 1850 to 1900. Even if this was still a one-off event, humanity is on the verge of permanently exceeding the limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Rising sea levels are just one consequence.
(mho)
