According to forecasts by US authorities, sea levels could rise as much in the next three decades as they have in the past 100 years.
By 2050, the sea level along the US coasts will rise by an average of up to 30 centimeters compared to today's levels, according to a report published on Tuesday, in the preparation of which the space agency NASA and the environmental agency NOAA were involved, among others.
This will lead to significantly more flooding in coastal areas, which will also reach further inland.
If it is not possible to curb future emissions, there could be 1.1 to 2.1 meters more by the end of this century, it said.
"This report supports the results of previous studies and confirms what we have known for a long time: Sea levels continue to rise at an alarming rate, putting people at risk around the world," said NASA CEO Bill Nelson.
"The evidence is clear and urgent action is needed to get a grip on this already unfolding climate crisis."
According to the IPCC assessment report published in August 2021, sea level rose by 20 centimeters between 1901 and 2018.
Until 1971 it was 1.3 millimeters per year, according to the IPCC it rose almost three times as fast on average between 2006 and 2018: That is 3.7 millimeters per year.
Even in the most favorable scenario, the researchers expect an increase of 28 to 55 centimeters by 2100 compared to the years 1995 to 2014. However, an increase of 2 meters by 2100 and of several meters in the coming century is therefore dependent on the extent of the ice melt , not excluded.
Sea levels are rising for several reasons.
For one thing, water expands as the temperature of the oceans rises.
In addition, global warming is causing glacial ice to melt, for example in the mountains, in Greenland and in Antarctica, and when melted ice flows into the seas, this also leads to the rise.
About 60 percent of all fresh water on earth is stored in the Antarctic ice sheet.