NASA's Earth Minute: Sea Level Rise

NASA has observed that the Earth is warming... and sea

level

s are rising. What is the connection? Like mercury in a thermometer, water expands when heated. And Earth's ocean is absorbing more than 90% of the heat from global warming. That's a lot. Warmer temperatures also cause much of the ice to melt and end up in the ocean. A child born today can expect the ocean to

rise

between 1 and 4 feet during his or her lifetime. In the United States alone, nearly 5 million people live within 4 feet of the local high tide

level

. That could mean increased flooding due to storm surges.

And as the ocean

rise

s, its salt water can mix with our rivers and groundwater... which is where many people get fresh water for drinking and farming. So there is no doubt that sea levels are rising. NASA can measure it from space. But what are we going to do about it? Some communities are taking steps to adapt...and others are working to address the cause: global warming. It's a big challenge, but hey, we better be prepared for it. Because, right now, good old Earth is the only planet we have!