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A New Study Shows Sea Levels Rose Faster During the 20th Century Than Any Other Time in 3,000 Years
Scientists have recently created a model of the planet’s sea level spanning back 3,000 years showing the increases and decreases of sea levels throughout that time period. The model has concluded that the rise in sea levels “was extremely likely faster than during any of the 27 previous centuries.”
Bob Kopp, a climate scientist from Rutgers University who lead the climate research, explained in a statement on his website that during his studies he determined a “95% probability that the rate of sea level increases in the 1900s was faster than during any century since at least 800 B.C.”
The findings are something to be cautious of, as the study also showed that climate change has had a big effect on rising sea levels.
“The global sea level would have ‘very likely’ changed by between a 3 centimeter (1.18 inch) drop and a 7 centimeter (2.75 inch) rise over the 20th century — rather than the 14 centimeter (5.512 inch) rise that was observed,” explained CNN.
The study was conducted by a group of 10 scientists from around the world and published in the U.S.’s Proceedings of the Nation Academy of Sciences on February 21.
The group of scientists found that global sea level change in the past 3,000 years is based around “statistical synthesis of a global database of regional sea level reconstructions.”
Together with the new statistical framework, it combines reconstructions of 1,300 sea level changes in 24 different locales around the world. The study proves that the global rise of sea level rose 0.05 inches per year in the 20th century.
According to NASA’s research, the sea level acceleration will only continue.
However, this isn’t the first time in history that sea levels have seen a significant change.
During 1000 and 1400 sea level dropped “a statistically robust” 8 centimeters.
CNN shared in a report from the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that in 2013 they were 95% certain “that human activity was to blame for at least half of climate change in the last half-century.”
This past December, many researchers met in Paris and adopted a legally biding agreement to fight climate change. The main goal of the agreement would be to abandon fossil fuels and stop global warming below a two degrees Celsius increase.