28 Apr Sea level rise
Sea level rise
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “Sea level rise”. The topic “Sea level rise” has relevance in the Environment section for the UPSC CSE exam.
Relevance of the topic “Sea level rise”
For Prelims:
What is Sea level rise?
What are the reasons for Sea level rise?
For Mains:
GS 3: Environment
What is the impact of Sea level rise?
What are the solutions to combat Sea level rise?
Way Forward
Why in the news?
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has found in a new report that the world’s sea level is rising at an unprecedented rate.
What is Sea level rise?
Sea level rise refers to the long-term increase in the average level of the Earth’s oceans and coastal waters.
The rate of global mean sea-level rise has doubled between the first decade of the satellite record and the last.
What are the reasons for Sea level rise?
There are several reasons for sea level rise, including:
- Thermal expansion: As the planet’s atmosphere and oceans warm due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, the oceans expand in volume, leading to an overall increase in sea level.
-
-
- Ocean warming the phenomenon of rising mean ocean temperatures contributed 55% to the sea level rise.
-
- Melting glaciers, ice caps, and ice sheets: The melting of glaciers, ice caps, and ice sheets particularly in Greenland and Antarctica, adds more water to the oceans, contributing to sea level rise.
-
-
- According to the report, from 2005-2019, the loss of glaciers and ice sheets contributed 36% to the GSML rise.
-
- Changes in land use and water storage: Changes in land use, such as deforestation, and water storage, such as the construction of dams, can affect the amount of water that flows into the oceans and contribute to sea level rise.
What is the impact of Sea level rise?
Sea level rise can have significant impacts on coastal areas and the people, ecosystems, and infrastructure that depend on them. Some of the impacts of sea level rise include:
- Coastal flooding: As sea levels rise, coastal flooding becomes more frequent and severe, leading to property damage, economic losses, and displacement of coastal communities.
-
-
- For example, the Sundarbans Delta in West Bengal, the world’s largest mangrove area is facing rising sea levels and coastal erosion, due to the loss of land and sediment from coastal areas.
- It has left more islands submerged under water, and that in turn has forced members of local communities to migrate.
-
- Livelihood of coastal communities: This will further endanger the socio-economic stability of these communities which depend on the coastal resources for their livelihood.
- Saltwater intrusion: As sea levels rise, saltwater can intrude into freshwater resources such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers, making them unsuitable for human consumption and agriculture.
- Habitat loss: Coastal ecosystems such as wetlands and mangroves, which provide important habitats for fish, birds, and other wildlife, are also threatened by sea level rise.
- Infrastructure damage: Coastal infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and ports are vulnerable to sea level rise and can be damaged or destroyed by coastal flooding and erosion.
What are the solutions to combat Sea level rise?
To combat sea level rise, a combination of mitigation and adaptation strategies are needed. Some of the key solutions include:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: The primary cause of sea level rise is global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels. To address this, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through actions such as shifting to renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, and improving public transportation.
- Adaptation measures: Coastal communities can also implement adaptation measures such as building sea walls, relocating vulnerable communities, and improving coastal land-use planning to reduce the impacts of sea level rise.
- Protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems such as wetlands and mangroves provide important natural protection against sea level rise. Protecting and restoring these ecosystems can help to reduce coastal erosion and protect coastal communities.
- Developing sustainable infrastructure: Infrastructure such as buildings and roads can be designed to be more resilient to the impacts of sea level rise. This includes elevating buildings, designing roads to withstand flooding, and improving drainage systems.
- Investing in research and development: Continued research and development in areas such as renewable energy, energy storage, and carbon capture technologies can help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise.
Way Forward
Overall, addressing sea level rise will require a comprehensive and coordinated response that incorporates a range of solutions and involves the participation of governments, communities, and businesses around the world.
Sources:
No Comments