The Rise Of Sea Level

Sea level continues to rise in recent years, but also that the rate gradually accelerated, according to some data of observations. Sea level is rising primarily because as global temperatures increase, oceans are warming, which causes sea water to expand; and land ice is melting, which transfers water to the ocean. The rise of sea level will increase the risk of the coastal inundation. “Climate change will not introduce any new types of coastal hazard” (Manatu Mo Te Taiao, 2004), but the climate change will affect the coastal hazards. The height of the tide is very significant decisive factor for the coastal inundation and the rise of sea level will affect the exceedance of the high water of high tides. Current Methods for defining the coastal …show more content…
“The thermal expansion of the world’s water bodies and the melting of glaciers is a slow, but pernicious process.”(Leatherman, Kershaw, Patricia, 2002) Sea level is rising at an approximate rate of 2 mm/year (Douglas et al., 2001) and is expected to accelerate over the next 100 years (USGCRP, 2001). In the next 100 years, the rate of the sea level rise is expected to increase by 0.44 (8cm/18cm) to 4.9(88cm/18cm) (IPCC, 2001). Even scientists are not able to reach agreement on this point which the rate of rise will be accelerated; it is unquestionable that the sea level is …show more content…
So the results have some deviations by using this method. In addition, Sea level rise is not the only reason which can affect the tide. There are various factors, such as climate or astronomical. All of this lead to that predicting the tidal heights in the future is difficult. However, the sea level rise is a key factor for rising tide and that is undisputed. It will make the coastal regions, not only the San Francisco, are more vulnerable to the inundation