Sea Levels Rising: Marseille Up 10cm, Manila 40cm, Global Threat Looms
Sea levels worldwide have been steadily rising, with Marseille, France, experiencing a 10-centimeter increase over the past three decades. This trend is set to continue, with predictions suggesting a rise between 20 and 80 centimeters by 2100. The impact is already evident in cities like Manila, Philippines, which has seen a 40-centimeter rise.
The Permanent Service of Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) has been tracking tide levels since 1933, while satellite-based measurements began in 1993. A collaborative effort by CORRECTIV and journalists from seven countries has made this global sea level data accessible to the public for the first time.
The North Sea island of Borkum has witnessed a 6-centimeter rise in sea levels over the past 30 years. However, the impact varies greatly across regions. In Scandinavian countries, land is rising faster than the sea, leading to some ports being left high and dry. The closer and lower-lying people live to the coast, the more they suffer from climate change. By 2200 or 2300, sea levels could rise by several meters, posing a significant threat to coastal communities worldwide. The IPCC report highlights major cities in South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, and deltas in Africa and Latin America as particularly vulnerable.
Sea level rise is an urgent global issue, with coastal cities and low-lying regions most at risk. As sea levels continue to rise, international cooperation and adaptation efforts will be crucial to mitigate the impacts of this climate change phenomenon.
