How long will it take for sea levels to rise by 30-50cm?

Answer 1

Sea levels rose by only 20 centimetres in the twentieth century, but that rise mainly occurred in the last decades of the century, as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose faster. During the last decade, mean global sea levels have been rising at approximately 2.9 to 3.4 millimetres per year but the rate is exponential, with experts now predicting a sea level rise of 90 to 150 centimetres over the course of the twenty-first century. An estimate of the time it would take for sea levels to rise by30 to 50 cm from the present level could be about 40 to 50 years, then about 20 to 30 years for a further 30 to 50 cm.

These estimates could change dramatically if substantial changes are made in the level of greenhouse gases produced by human activities.