Sea Level Rises
As temperatures rise, the sea will absorb heat from the atmosphere, causing it to expand and therefore creating sea level rises.
Recent studies show that the ice sheets in Greenland
and Antarctica are melting faster than the snow is replacing the mass. Land glaciers will continue to melt over the coming century which will increase the level of the seas. In their 4th Report the predict a sea level rise of 0.18 – 0.38m increase by 2100 in the most optimistic scenario and 0.26 – 0.59m in the most pessimistic.
Some islands will be affected by sea level rises significantly and their habitats will be threatened. One example is of the small island - Tuvalu in the Pacific, which is already experiencing severe flooding which is damaging their homes and affecting drinking water. The islanders have already started to leave and the rest will have to do so in coming years if the trend continues.
In the UK, the effect of sea level rises goes hand in hand with the land movements being experienced across the country. Therefore sea level rises could be different throughout the country. Sea level rises increase the risk of flooding and coastal erosion, particularly in the south and east of England.
Water: Glaciers and ice sheets Flooding Gulf stream
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