sea level rise realness
If life's a beach, human existence is effectively a slow-rolling tidal wave.
If that feels harsh to you, it means you're on your way to getting mentally prepared for the science behind Sea Level Rise. It's truly some heavy stuff.
Sea Level Rise is the increase in the level of the world’s oceans due to climate change caused by observed human impacts. There are two factors increasing ocean volume: ice melt and thermal expansion.
Largely, climate change has been proven to be caused by the world's wealthiest nations; yet the consequences disproportionately affect developing countries who release a small fraction of greenhouse gas emissions.
If humans stopped emitting carbon tomorrow, sea level would still rise; due to stunning amounts of heat going into the ocean. The amount of heat accumulating in the ocean is comparable to five atomic bombs worth of heat a second. The amount of heat already stored in the sea is currently devastating wildlife and will melt ice sheets for centuries.
Over the years, the earth has exhibited very consistently observed patterns, called the Milankovitch Cycles, and essentially, we are at a time in which the earth should be on a cycle of cooling - yet alarmingly, we are on a continual upward trend of warming.
In a typical century, the sea level will fluctuate an average of four feet with little variance. Since 2000, we’ve been on a path upwards of a ten foot rise in sea level by 2100, and that is with a conservative assumption on the ice in, and, around Antarctica; whose variance is being called the "Antarctic Asterisk."
Here are renderings showing a few major US Landmarks at a 1.5 degree celsius increase; which we are on track to hit by 2050. This is visualizing the urgency behind needing to address net zero now.
This issue requires a massive overhaul in the way that corporations, governments and individuals approach carbon emissions and our responsibility to eliminate them. Without swift action, many of our coastal towns could be quite literally under water within the next 50 years.
The best resource for this information is: Sustainability Defined Podcast, Episode 63: Sea Level Rise - which includes a plethora of further details and extremely well researched information on the topic, as well.
I know it might not feel like it, but each person who is made aware of this information is another beacon of knowledge, activated in the fight for our planet. Though this information can be tough to digest, we are looking in the crystal ball today - which means our future is still in our hands.
