With temperatures plunging in areas like India because of the El Nino phenomenon, oceans too are taking a different course. New information has shown that global sea levels are increasing rapidly, which is likely to result in more flooding and erosion along the coast.
This data recently released indicates that average sea levels on Earth rose by 0.76 centimeters between 2022 and 2023 alone. It is described as an important increase by experts due to global climate warming and a strong El Nino.
There are notable shifts in oceanic water levels as shown by NASA’s thirty years of satellite observations since 1992. The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich mission which was launched on November 2020 reveals that sea level has risen approximately 9.4 centimeters since 1993. The increase now stands at an average of 0.42 cm per year compared to 0.18 cm per year in December, 1993.
The head of NASA’s Sea Level Change Team, Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer estimates another twenty centimeters rise in sea level by mid-century. This predicted increase is almost double what was observed during the last century and may result into more frequent and severe floods all over the world.
It is also worth noting that variations caused by El Niño and La Niña cycles have an effect on sea level fluctuations. La Niña, characterized with cool Pacific waters usually reduces sea level through redistributing rainfall from the ocean to the land masses. El Nino influenced by warm Pacific waters increases their levels through increased oceanic precipitation. These patterns while causing temporary changes overlay a long-term trend of rising seas due to global warming.
Using microwave signals sent down to the surface of water bodies radar altimeter gives accurate details about sea level calculations. Measures obtained from tide gauges and other satellite instruments help verify these estimates.
Scientists can comprehend complex phenomena associated with global sea-level change using this coherent international dataset. Together with ocean temperatures, ice losses and ground shifting data, the researchers integrate what is happening in the world’s seas.
This survey shows that there is an urgent need to combat climate change and its impact on our planet as it heats up.
