Sea level rising has become a very commonly discussed and debated topic all across the world. People are confused and worried at the same time, about the potential threats and problems that could be caused because of sea water rising. Smaller nations near to water bodies are facing the threat of getting washed away because of rise in sea level, which needs to be the most pressing matter to tackle for everyone.
But except for the scientists and researchers, not many laymen are keen to know about the actual reason as to why sea level is rising? This is why in order to educate such ignorant people about the dangers and problems posed by sea level rising it becomes necessary to know the actual causing factors of such an adverse phenomenon.
The root of the problem lies in what is known as global warming. According to statistics, in the last century, the average temperature of the earth has gone up by 0.6%. This might appear to be a very slight margin when looked at a glance, but even this slightest increase has contributed to massive sea water rising around the world
Global warming by itself however is not the main cause factor. Global warming is just one part of the chain reaction that results in sea level rising. The other factors in the chain reaction are:
- Greenhouse Gases
- Thermal Expansion
- Melting Ice Caps
- Melting Glaciers
Rising sea levels is all about cause and effect. A vicious cycle, the above factors in the chain reaction can be summarised and elaborated as follows:
Because of increased developments in technology and science, the levels of naturally present greenhouse gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide start to increase considerably
- The increase in these gases causes what is known as the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse effect refers to the trapping of heat emitted by the sun by such greenhouse gases within the earth’s atmosphere. This leads to an increase in the temperature on the earth’s surface and atmosphere, more commonly known as global warming
- Because of global warming, the ice caps and the glaciers start to melt. Going by the statistical figures, the Himalayan have been reducing by 1.5-2 metres each year. Similarly, the sheets of ice in Greenland on the Northern Hemisphere and the chunks of glaciers and ice-bergs in Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere are showing signs of melting.
This happens due to thermal expansion, a natural process where a particular matter (in this case ice chunks) undergo a change in their volume because of the change in the surrounding temperature.
- Since the majority of the earth’s surface is covered by water – 71%, the logical conclusion formed is that, that the melted sheets and caps of ice will ultimately join the water bodies leading to a rise in the overall sea water level
Understanding the problem leads one to go one step closer to the solution. After understanding and getting to know as to why is sea level rising, people can start taking smaller steps to prevent the problem from developing and mutating further. For, only little drops of proactive effort can save the mighty seas and oceans from deluging and destroying the world in the future.
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