Sea Level
Sea level rise is caused primarily by two factors related to global warming: the added water from melting land ice and the expansion of sea water as it warms. The first chart tracks the change in sea level since 1993 as observed by satellites.
The second chart, derived from coastal tide gauge data, shows how much sea level changed from about 1870 to 2000.
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SATELLITE DATA: 1993-PRESENT
Data source: Satellite sea level observations.
Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Rate of Change
3.4
millimeters per year
margin: ±0.4
GROUND DATA: 1870-2000
Data source: Coastal tide gauge records.
Credit: CSIRO
Credit: CSIRO
