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Geophysics & Environmental Physics

Sea Level Rise

The ongoing increase in global mean sea level caused by thermal expansion of warming ocean water and meltwater input from glaciers and ice sheets.

Governing formula Δh_sea = Δh_thermosteric + Δh_eustatic (Thermal Expansion + Meltwater)
SI unit mm/year (Rate of Rise)

In depth

Global warming causes sea level rise through two primary mechanisms: thermosteric expansion (~40%, warming water expands) and eustatic mass addition (~60%, melting land ice from Greenland and Antarctica).

Examples in the real world

Current global mean sea level rising at an accelerated rate of ~3.4 mm/year measured by satellite radar altimeters.