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Rising Seas: Past, Present, and Future

Jack London

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Rising sea levels are a major threat to coastal communities around the world. As the global climate changes, the oceans are warming and expanding, and glaciers and ice caps are melting. This is causing the sea level to rise, and it is having a devastating impact on coastal communities.

Rising Seas: Past, Present, Future

by Vivien Gornitz

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	361 pages

The History of Rising Sea Levels

Sea levels have been rising for thousands of years. During the last ice age, which ended about 10,000 years ago, the sea level was much lower than it is today. As the glaciers melted, the sea level began to rise. This rise has continued at a relatively slow pace for centuries.

However, in recent decades, the rate of sea level rise has accelerated. This is due to the burning of fossil fuels, which is releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, causing the planet to warm. As the planet warms, the oceans expand and glaciers melt, which is causing the sea level to rise at an even faster pace.

The Current State of Affairs

The current rate of sea level rise is about 3.2 millimeters per year. This may not seem like much, but it is enough to cause significant damage to coastal communities. In fact, some coastal communities are already being forced to relocate due to rising sea levels.

The impacts of rising sea levels are already being felt around the world. Coastal erosion is becoming more common, and storms are causing more damage. Saltwater is also intruding into freshwater aquifers, which is making drinking water more scarce.

The Future of Rising Sea Levels

The future of rising sea levels is uncertain. However, scientists believe that the sea level will continue to rise for centuries to come. The amount of sea level rise will depend on how much greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.

If we continue to burn fossil fuels at the current rate, the sea level could rise by as much as 1 meter by the end of the century. This would have a devastating impact on coastal communities around the world.

However, if we take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we can slow the rate of sea level rise. By investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, we can help to protect our coastal communities from the impacts of rising sea levels.

What Can We Do?

There are a number of things that we can do to help reduce the impacts of rising sea levels. These include:

Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions
Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency
Protecting and restoring coastal wetlands
Relocating coastal communities to higher ground

By taking these steps, we can help to protect our coastal communities from the impacts of rising sea levels and ensure a brighter future for our planet.

Rising Seas: Past, Present, Future

by Vivien Gornitz

4 out of 5