Climate Change: Causes and Impacts of Rising Sea Levels

How does climate change cause rising sea levels?

Sea levels are rising as a result of the glaciers and polar ice caps melting as the earth warms. People who live in low-lying areas may be displaced as a result, along with coastal floods and erosion.
Several factors, including climate change, can contribute to rising sea levels. The polar ice caps and glaciers melting is the main method it accomplishes this. The melting of the ice at the poles and on mountaintops, which occurs when the Earth's temperature rises, releases water into the ocean, raising sea levels.

Thermal expansion is another method that a changing climate can cause sea levels to rise. Sea levels increase as a result of the water expanding as the waters warm.

Sea level rise can also be a result of permafrost melting in the Arctic tundra since the frozen soil there contains a lot of ice that, when it melts, rushes out into the sea.

Coastal communities might be significantly impacted by sea level rise, rendering them more susceptible to storm surges and flooding. The risk of coastal flooding and other types of coastal erosion will probably rise in many places of the world as sea levels continue to rise.

It's vital to remember that human actions like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which cause greenhouse gases to grow, are what cause sea level rise and other effects of climate change. Since the 1800s, the sea level has increased at a startling rate, and estimates show that it will continue to rise unless immediate steps are taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the impacts of rising sea levels caused by climate change?

Rising sea levels brought on by climate change can harm coastal ecosystems and communities in a variety of ways. The following are some of the more notable impacts:

Flooding: Coastal communities are more susceptible to storm surges and flooding as sea levels rise. This could result in property loss, damage to houses and businesses, and eviction of locals.

Coastal erosion: Increasing coastal erosion can harm beaches, dunes, and other coastal habitats. Rising sea levels can also aggravate this problem. Homes and infrastructure built close to the ocean may also be at danger.

As sea levels rise, saltwater can intrude farther inland, harming freshwater habitats and obstructing the flow of freshwater supplies. This can make it difficult for people to acquire clean drinking water and hurt or even kill plant and animal species that depend on freshwater.

Wetlands and marshes that are lost serve as a buffer to protect coastal regions from storm surges and flooding. These habitats are more susceptible to submersion when sea levels rise, which may result in their loss.

Loss of biodiversity: Changing maritime habitats due to rising sea levels can be fatal or severely detrimental to fish, birds, and other marine species. This has the potential to upend entire food chains and significantly affect the livelihoods of those who depend on fishing and other maritime pursuits.

Human settlement disruption: The effects of sea level rise are already being felt in many coastal cities and towns, and if the sea level rises more, the issue will only become worse. People may be uprooted, their houses and infrastructure may be destroyed, and local economies may be affected.

Rising sea levels can have a variety of indirect effects in addition to these direct ones, such as making it more difficult to address other climate change-related problems including droughts, heat waves, and wildfires.