Sea-level rise underestimation challenged by new global analysis
TL;DR Summary
A meta-analysis of 385 studies from 2009–2025 finds global sea levels are about 30 cm higher than widely used estimates, with some regions in the global south potentially 100–150 cm higher due to reliance on global geoid-based references rather than local measurements. This suggests coastal risks are underestimated and, after a 1 m relative rise, about 37% more coastline could be submerged, affecting up to 132 million people. The researchers call for re-evaluating coastal hazard methods and incorporating local sea-level data into climate policy and IPCC assessments.
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- The sea is higher than we thought and millions more are at risk, study finds AP News
- Scientists find sea levels are already much higher than we thought. That could spell trouble for the future CNN
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