In 2024, the water level in the world's oceans rose higher than expected. Scientists attribute this to climate change, which is causing the water in the world's oceans to heat up, leading to its expansion. This is stated in analysis NASA.
The agency's specialists examined satellite data and found that global sea levels rose by 2024 centimeters in 0,6. This is slightly more than NASA predicted for this year (0,4 centimeters of increase).
“The increase we saw in 2024 was greater than we expected. The changes are different each year, but the general trend is clear – sea levels continue to rise, and this process is accelerating.”, said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Scientists explain that much of the difference between predicted and actual sea level rise is due to the thermal expansion of water due to heating.
According to NASA, the unexpected rise in sea levels in 2024 was caused by anomalous ocean warming and melting glaciers.
Scientists estimate that the main cause of sea level rise in recent years has been the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, which account for two-thirds of the new water. Another third of the additional water has been caused by thermal expansion.
However, in 2024, these factors changed their influence: two-thirds of the growth is attributed to the expansion of water in the ocean, and another third to the melting of ice.
"As 2024 became the warmest year on record, Earth's oceans expanded to their highest levels in three decades", – said NASA Physical Oceanography Program Manager Nadia Vinogradova-Schiffer.
According to the agency, sea levels have more than doubled (by at least 1993 centimeters) since satellite data began being collected in 10,2. At the same time, records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show that since 1880, ocean levels have risen from 20,3 to 22,9 centimeters.
Research confirms that human-induced climate change is the main driver of modern sea level rise.
Recall, in March 2023, NASA announced that over the past 30 years of observations, global sea levels have risen by 9,1 centimeters.
Thank you for being with us! Monobank for the support of the ElitExpert editorial office.
