### Rising Oceans: NASA Highlights Swift Sea Level Increase in 2024
A new **NASA** evaluation, derived from data of specialized satellites, indicates that global sea levels surged more than expected in 2024. Nevertheless, experts stress that data from a single year is not as important as the general trend. Since 1993, when satellites started measuring ocean heights, global sea levels have climbed by over **10 centimeters (approximately four inches)**—and this rate is quickening. Overall, sea levels have grown around **8 to 9 inches since 1880**.
*”Each year shows some variation, but it’s evident that the ocean is on the rise, and the pace of that rise is increasing,”* stated **Josh Willis**, a researcher studying sea level rise at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
### The Escalating Effects of Rising Oceans
In the last decade, discussions surrounding **sea level rise**—which results in heightened flooding, storm damage, and risks to coastal infrastructure—have often faced skepticism. Some suggest that a few inches of elevation appear trivial, while others claim scientists are overemphasizing the situation. However, the reality is that **sea levels are not halting at four inches**—they persist in rising at an ever-quickening rate.
A **2022 report** from prominent U.S. agencies, including **NOAA, NASA, and the Department of Defense**, forecasts that sea levels along the U.S. coastline will increase by **10 inches to a foot within the next 30 years**. By century’s end, the U.S. may confront **several feet of sea level rise**, influenced by future climate scenarios.
### Satellite Evidence Supports Growing Rise
Data from NASA’s satellites, gathered since 1993, indicates that the **sea level rise rate has doubled** during this timeframe. Satellites like **Sentinel-6/Michael Freilich** utilize radar altimeters to assess ocean heights by emitting radio waves to the surface and studying their reflections.
#### What’s Causing Sea Level Rise?
Two main factors contribute to escalating sea levels:
1. **Melting Ice (Around Two-Thirds of the Increase)**
– **Mountain glaciers** across the globe are shrinking, introducing additional water into the oceans.
– The **Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets** are melting at alarming rates.
– Greenland alone experienced a loss of **200 gigatons of ice each year** from 2003 to 2019.
2. **Thermal Expansion (About One-Third of the Increase)**
– As the **oceans take in heat**, they expand.
– In 2024, thermal expansion had a more significant impact due to unprecedented global temperatures.
### 2024: An Unprecedented Year
With **2024 marking the hottest year ever**, thermal expansion played a greater role in sea level rise than normal, elevating the increase to nearly **a quarter inch** beyond annual predictions. However, it is anticipated that **melting ice sheets** will emerge as the primary contributor in the years ahead.
*”The ice sheets are merely beginning to warm up,”* Willis previously remarked to Mashable.
### The Indeterminate Future of Sea Levels
Forecasting future sea level increases is complex because **human-induced melting at this magnitude has never been documented**. A critical worry is **Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier**, which is about the size of Florida. If it continues to destabilize, it could unleash **vast quantities of water** into the ocean.
*”Thwaites is a key area in Antarctica that poses a risk of releasing a massive volume of water into the ocean in the coming decades,”* stated **Sridhar Anandakrishnan**, a glaciology professor at Penn State University.
### Long-Term Projections: What’s at Stake?
U.S. agencies have proposed **five potential sea level rise scenarios** for the timeframe between **2050 and 2150**. The most positive scenario necessitates **drastic climate measures** to contain global warming to **1.6°C (2.8°F) above pre-industrial averages**. Conversely, the **”Intermediate” scenario**, assuming a **2°C (3.6°F) temperature increase**, anticipates **1.3 feet of sea level rise by 2050** and several feet by 2100.
### The Influence of Human Decisions
Ultimately, the scale of future sea level rise hinges on **human actions**. The choices made today—such as curbing carbon emissions, safeguarding coastal regions, and enhancing climate resilience—will influence the extent of sea level increases and how they impact upcoming generations.
Sea level rise is now an imminent concern. The **four-inch increase since 1993** is merely the precursor to a much larger and quickening trend.