Rising Sea Levels
By Nelle Verity- class of 2027
Introduction
The importance of sea level is something that is really important to understand when discussing the rise that is occurring to the sea levels. In the United States almost 30% of the population lives in coastal areas, this includes our home Cape May. Sea level rises have a huge effect on these areas causing flooding, storm hazards, and the erosion of our shoreline. All of these factors are currently playing a role in Cape May County to the point where beach renourishment is being performed to help combat erosion. One commonly overlooked effect of sea level rise is the storm surges that are deadly and destructive. These major storms can cause massive devastation that take years and cost a lot of money to rebuild causing many families to lose their homes. Understanding the effects of the rising sea levels can show the importance of understanding and aiming to reduce sea levels from rising even further.
Explanation
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the global mean sea level has risen about 8-9 inches since 1880. This rise is caused by the melting of massive glaciers and the thermal expansion of water as it heats up. The period of time from 1993 to 2023 saw the greatest average rise in sea level of about a 4 inch increase over the 30 year period. All of this shows the reality of rising sea levels, which is that it is happening faster than ever. What causes it has also been a large focus over the past years. A major cause of the rising sea levels is the burning of fossil fuels which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases cause the Earth to warm and about 90% of this heat is being absorbed by the ocean causing the sea levels to rise.
Conclusion
It is very clear that rising sea levels are happening and have the potential to cause major damage to our home and many other communities just like it. However, there are efforts that can be made to reduce the rate at which the sea levels are rising. The most obvious being to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases being released to reduce the rate at which the Earth is warming. This is not a simple task, but with effort it can be done. Some way to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases being admitted is to support and follow legislation aiming to reduce greenhouse gases and making a conscious effort individually to reduce the amount of fossil fuels you burn.
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