Browsing: Sea Level

Sea level, often referred to as mean sea level (MSL), is the average height of the ocean’s surface between high and low tide, used as a standard for measuring elevations on Earth. Sea level is not static and varies due to several factors including the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, atmospheric pressure, and ocean currents. Over longer periods, sea level is influenced significantly by climate change, primarily due to two main processes: thermal expansion of seawater as it warms and the addition of water from melting ice sheets and glaciers. Monitoring sea level is crucial for understanding and predicting changes that impact coastal ecosystems, human populations living near coasts, and the overall climate system. Rising sea levels pose a major risk to coastal areas, leading to higher storm surges, increased erosion, and flooding of low-lying infrastructure. Globally, sea level rise is a critical indicator in climate change studies, prompting adaptation and mitigation strategies in vulnerable regions.