Sea levels rising twice as fast than 30 years ago

SEA levels are rising twice as fast nowadays than 30 years ago, during the 1990s, according to the United Nations’ weather agency.

In its State of Climate in 2021 report (here), the World Meteorological Organization says  the mean global mean sea level rise was 2.1 mm per year between 1993 and 2002, However, between 2013 and 2021, it rose by 4.4 mm per year – “mostly due to the accelerated loss of ice mass from glaciers and ice sheets”.

In addition to reporting that the “past seven years are on track to be the seven warmest on record”, the WMO’s Secretary-General, Prof. Petteri Taalas, is quoted, as saying that “extreme [weather] events are the new norm”.

The report begins, bleakly: “Record atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and associated accumulated heat have propelled the planet into uncharted territory, with far-reaching repercussions for current and future generations.”

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland