NASA data aids global efforts in combating sea level rise

NASA data aids global efforts in combating sea level rise
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 18, 2024
The world's oceans are rising, posing significant challenges for coastal regions as they face disruptions to their infrastructure and communities. To help these areas prepare, NASA is providing critical data that aids in global response strategies.

NASA's comprehensive sea level data can now be accessed through the Earth Information Center's sea level section. This global sea level change website, developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, World Bank, U.S. Department of State, and United Nations Development Programme, offers projections extending up to 2150 and includes insights into potential flooding for the next three decades.

The data derives from NASA's collaborations with other agencies, using satellite observations, ice sheet and ocean models, and input from assessments like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's reports. "NASA innovates for the benefit of humanity. Our cutting-edge instruments and data-driven information tools help communities and organizations respond to natural hazards and extreme weather, and inform critical coastal infrastructure planning decisions," stated Karen St. Germain, NASA's Earth science division director.

Transforming Data into Preparedness
Organizations such as the World Bank plan to leverage this resource to craft Climate Risk Profiles for nations most susceptible to sea level rise. The U.S. Defense Department continues to incorporate the data into strategies to mitigate threats to its facilities due to coastal impacts, while the State Department supports global partners in disaster planning and long-term resilience efforts.

"We are at a moment of truth in our fight against the climate crisis. The science is unequivocal and must serve as the bedrock upon which decision-making is built," said Selwin Hart, Assistant Secretary-General and climate action adviser at the UN. "With many communities around the world already facing severe impacts from sea-level rise, this new resource provides a vital tool to help them protect lives and livelihoods."

Accelerating Trends
NASA-led research indicates that from 1970 to 2023, 96% of coastal nations have experienced sea level rise, with the pace of increase doubling from 0.08 inches (0.21 cm) per year in 1993 to 0.18 inches (0.45 cm) in 2023. This acceleration brings forward projections of severe consequences, including increased storm surges, higher instances of saltwater contaminating groundwater, and more frequent high-tide flooding.

"This new platform shows the timing of future floods and the magnitude of rising waters in all coastal countries worldwide, connecting science and physics to impacts on people's livelihoods and safety," said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, NASA's ocean physics program director.

Recent data highlights that Pacific Island nations are particularly vulnerable, with predictions of at least 6 inches (15 cm) of sea level rise in the next 30 years, leading to significantly more frequent high-tide flood events by the 2050s.

"The data is clear: Sea levels are rising around the world, and they're rising faster and faster," noted Ben Hamlington, leader of NASA's sea level change science team. "Having the best information to make decisions about how to plan for rising seas is more crucial than ever."