Sea level rise is often associated with catastrophic flooding, destroying homes and businesses and displacing people. It also poses a risk to public infrastructure that supports vital community services, like roads, subways, and drinking water supplies.
The most significant cause of global sea level rise is thermal expansion, triggered by warming ocean waters. The Earth is getting warmer primarily due to the accumulation of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, 90% of which are absorbed by the oceans. As the water in the ocean warms, it expands, pushing against land-based ice sheets and glaciers. The melting of these ice sheets and glaciers is adding to the overall sea-level rise.
Local sea-level change is influenced by a number of factors, including the rate at which the ocean rises, the amount of land uplift or subsidence in an area, and changes to coastal ocean current patterns. These complexities can make it challenging for scientists to study the effect of climate change on sea level rise on local scales. Scientists who do focus on local-scale sea level change typically use data from tide gauges and satellite laser altimeters.
Many species of animals rely on coastal habitats for breeding, nesting, finding food, and just living. They are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise. For example, some sea turtles lay their eggs on beaches and return to the same location year after year to do so. As beaches erode or are covered by rising seas they lose this important habit. Other animals that live near the coast, like birds and seals, face a similar situation.
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