Report: Sea-Level Rise Is Accelerating

Sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, continuing a trend that began in 2013 or 2014, and pushes coastal communities toward the extreme end of the possible spectrum of sea-level rise.

1 minute read

February 5, 2020, 12:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Sea Level Rise

andy / Shutterstock

"The rate of sea level rise along much of the U.S. coastline continues to accelerate," reports Doyle Rice, sharing the findings of a new study by researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

"The report's key message 'is a clear trend toward acceleration in rates of sea-level rise at 25 of our 32 tide-gauge stations,' said Virginia Institute of Marine Science emeritus professor John Boon in a statement." VIMS measures sea-level trends and projects sea-level heights for 32 localities along the U.S. East, Gulf, West, and Alaskan coasts.

"Sea level rise acceleration was highest along the Gulf Coast, where Grand Island, Louisiana, saw a nearly 8 millimeter yearly increase, double the global average, according to the report," according to Rice's explanation of the study's findings. "Galveston and Rockport in Texas also had significant increases."

Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in USA Today

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