Global Sea Level Rise Accelerates, Doubling Projected Increase by 2050
Recent NASA data shows a significant spike in global sea level in 2023, attributed to El Niño and ongoing climate change, with rates of rise doubling since 1993.
- Global sea level rose by about 0.76 centimeters (0.3 inches) from 2022 to 2023, nearly four times the previous year's increase.
- The rate of sea level rise has more than doubled from 0.18 centimeters (0.07 inches) per year in 1993 to 0.43 centimeters (0.17 inches) per year currently.
- NASA projects an additional 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) increase in global mean sea level by 2050, doubling the change observed in the past century.
- The immediate cause of the 2023 spike is attributed to a strong El Niño, which causes temporary increases in sea levels by altering rainfall patterns.
- Long-term datasets and technological innovations in satellite observations have enhanced the accuracy of sea level measurements, distinguishing between short-term effects and underlying trends.
The Japan Times 
NASA 