UN Scientists Estimate Sea Levels Could Rise 27 Inches This Century Read more: Scientists Estimate Sea Levels Could Rise 27 Inches This Century | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

We all know that sea levels across the world are steadily rising due to climate change, but just how these changes will affect us remains to be seen. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) just released a report that states melting ice could cause water levels to rise nearly 27 inches around the world by 2100.

 

Natural disasters and storms have been the cause of noticeable sea level rise over the past few years, proving just how vulnerable coastal areas (especially cities) are to encroaching flood waters. But the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report delves further into the future of our sea levels, going beyond passing storms and instead dealing with real and consistent issues like climate change, gas emissions and subsequent glacier melting.

 

From worst case to best scenario, the findings do not look good for us. The report says that melting ice and glaciers around the world could add an additional 14 inches to our oceans- coupled with other environmental factors that could add even more. The influx of this water over the next 83 or so years will affect different areas around the world in varying ways, meaning lower-lying regions could experience a sea level rise of 27 inches.

Although the report are purely estimates, the 24 institutions funded by the European Union feel the worst case scenarios are accurate, and add that temperatures could increase 3.5 C by 2100.

 

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