Sea-level change refers to temporal variations in the height of the global or regional ocean surface relative to a reference datum, driven by combined effects of eustatic, isostatic, and steric processes. Eustatic change primarily arises from alterations in ocean mass, notably through glacial–interglacial ice-sheet dynamics and contemporary land ice melt. Isostatic and tectonic processes modify the vertical position of the solid Earth, producing relative sea-level change at specific locations. Steric contributions reflect temperature- and salinity-driven density changes that alter ocean volume. Quantifying sea-level change integrates tide-gauge records, satellite altimetry, gravimetry, and glacial isostatic adjustment models for reconstructing past variability and constraining projections.
William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS have released their 2024 U.S. sea level "report cards," providing updated analyses of sea level trends and projections for 36 coastal communities. Encompassing 55 years of historical ...
Environment
May 6, 2025
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Researchers from the Institute for Environmental Sciences (IVM) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have unveiled DYNAMO-M, a global agent-based model that projects how farmers across the world's coasts may respond to the growing ...
Earth Sciences
May 2, 2025
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The next great earthquake isn't the only threat to the Pacific Northwest. A powerful earthquake, combined with rising sea levels, could significantly increase flood risks in the Pacific Northwest, impacting thousands of residents ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 28, 2025
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66
Over the past two decades, satellite-based planetary observations have recorded rapid mass loss of Patagonian glaciers, contributing approximately 0.07 mm per year to global sea-level rise. A study published in Nature Communications ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 23, 2025
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30
Beneath the surface of the Southern Ocean, vast volumes of cold, dense water plunge off the Antarctic continental shelf, cascading down underwater cliffs to the ocean floor thousands of meters below. These hidden waterfalls ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 22, 2025
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96
To protect against rising sea levels in a warming world, coastal cities typically follow a standard playbook with various protective infrastructure options. For example, a seawall could be designed based on the latest climate ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 17, 2025
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In estuaries—the transitional zones between rivers and the sea—fresh and salt water are constantly battling for dominance. But due to climate change, the saltwater is gaining ground. New research by Utrecht University's Institute ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 15, 2025
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150
Research led by the Union of Concerned Scientists reports that emissions from the world's largest fossil fuel and cement companies have contributed significantly to both present-day and long-term sea level rise. Products ...
A team of Earth scientists affiliated with Peking University and the Southern University of Science and Technology, both in China, and a researcher from the University of Southern California, in the U.S., have found that ...
One of the biggest challenges in predicting Antarctica's deeply uncertain future is understanding exactly what's driving its ice loss.
Earth Sciences
Apr 7, 2025
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