Sea Level, Rising

SEA LEVEL RISE is caused by thermal expansion of the oceans, melting of glaciers and ice caps, melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and changes in terrestrial storage. Changes in sea level will be felt through increases in the intensity and frequency of storm surges and coastal flooding; increased salinity of rivers, bays, and coastal aquifers resulting from saline intrusion; increased coastal erosion; loss of important mangroves and other wetlands (the exact response will depend on the balance between sedimentation and sea level change) and its effect on marine ecosystems (i.e., coral reefs).

Global sea level rose by about 394 ft. (120 m.) during the several millennia that followed the end of the last Ice Age (approximately 21,000 years ago) before stabilizing between 3,000 ...