Sea level rising

Via Guardian Unlimited - World's sea levels rising at accelerating rate

Sea levels are rising even faster than scientists predicted, according to a global analysis of data from tide gauges and satellites.

The researchers say the study puts to bed claims that climate scientists have exaggerated the consequences of global warming. And because the study shows that sea level is responding even faster than expected, the work suggests governments have even less time to act in order to combat climate change.

The report was published in the journal Science ahead of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) report, published today, which brings together the last three years of research on global warming. The heavily trailed tome will say that it is "highly unlikely (less than 5%)" that observed warming and ice loss are due to natural factors.

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If the climate follows this upper sea level prediction we will experience an 88cm rise in sea levels by the end of the century - much higher than the 14 - 43cm rise predicted under the IPCC's most likely climate scenario.

A sea level rise of 88cm is a far cry from the 20 feet my sister tells me that National Geographic Channel is suggesting (episode airing again Saturday, Feb. 3 at 4pm EST), but it is very significant. And if it continues to double, as it obviously did since the last prediction, that 20 feet might not be out of the question. However, the end of the century is still a long was off.