A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that rising sea levels are now happening at a quicker rate than 2,800 years ago. The study, led by climate scientist Bob Kopp of Rutgers University, found with 95% probability that sea level rise in the 20th century was faster than any of the previous 27 centuries. The research presented a "hockey stick" graph showing sea levels were mostly flat for thousands of years but then sharply increased in recent years, which the study attributes to global warming from human activities like carbon dioxide emissions. By 2100, projections estimate sea levels could rise up to 4 feet if emissions are not reduced.

1. A recentstudypublishedbythe Proceedingsof the National Academyof Sciencesrevealedthatthe
risingsealevelsare now,supposedly,happeningata quickerrate than theywere 2,800 years.Although
not certain,BobKopp,a climate scientistatRutgers Universitywholedthe study,cansaywithmore
confidence thatinthe 20th
centurythe risingsealevelsweremuchfasterthanbefore.
“We can say with95 percentprobabilitythatthe 20th-centuryrise wasfasterthanany of the previous
27 centuries,”saidKopp.
From 1990 to 2000 the sealevelsrose around14 centimeters,orata rate of 1.4 millimetersperyear.
Today,however,NASA claimsthatthe currentrate is3.4 millimetersayear. The researchpresented,
revealeda“hockeystick”graph;the “handle”of the hockeystickpresentsalongandmostlyflatsea
level forthousandsof years,whichthenturnsintothe “blade”andshowsa sharpincrease insealevels
inrecentyears. Andwho can we blame forthisrisingconcern?Us.
The study pointsitsfingeratglobal warmingasthe cause of acceleratingsealevels.One wayglobal
warmingcouldhave effectedthispossible increase insealevels,are the meltingof mountainglaciersall
overthe globe as well asthe natural expansionof waterwhenitiswarmaccordingto an article in The
Washington Post.
Althoughquite abitof damage has alreadybeendone tothisearth,we as humanscouldstill make an
impact.The studyrevealsthatif we have low emissionsof carbondioxidethansealevelsinthe 21st
centurymay onlyrise by24 to 61 centimeters.However,athighemissionsthe studyestimatesthatsea
levelscouldbe facinganywhere from52 to 131 centimeters,or,asan extreme high,4.29feet.
By the year 2100, it isprojectedbythe National Academy of Sciencesandthe U.N.’sIntergovernmental
Panel onClimate Change thatthe earthcouldbe facinga maximumof fourfeetof sealevel rises. These
numbersare startling,butremember,the change startswiththe individual andthe choicesyoumake.