If global warming continues at the current rate how might sea level be affected?

Answer 1

Greenland has sufficient ice to raise ocean levels more than 20 feet. I was surprised when I first heard this, and calculated the result myself.

There is some thermal expansion of water as its temperature is raised, so melting the Arctic ice cap would raise ocean levels a little bit, but not a lot. The reason it would not be a big rise is because Arctic ice is already afloat. Arctic ice occupies no more volume than the water it already displaces.

Antarctic ice, however, is NOT afloat, and there is sufficient water locked on that continent to raise ocean levels more than 200 feet. Fortunately, even at accelerated melt rates, we expect it will be several thousand years before that ice contributes more to rising sea levels than Greenland's ice.

Answer 2

If global warming continues at the current rate, sea levels are projected to rise due to thermal expansion of warming oceans and melting ice caps and glaciers. This could result in increased flooding of coastal areas, displacement of populations, and loss of habitats for marine life. Efforts to mitigate climate change are crucial to limit these impacts.

Answer 3

Sea levels will rise.