|
Warmer water is less dense and it has a larger volume. Look at the temperature rise of the ocean - it is warmer and therefore it is rising. This accounts for most of the rise, but a small proportion is from melting glaciers around the world. Greenland's ice sheet is starting to melt a lot faster, as are various West Antarctic ice sheets - these will now be contributing more to raising the sea level .
How much it rises any any given location is strongly affected by the spin of the earth, and variations in the strength of gravity (caused by large masses of ice or mountains, etc.). And yes, erosion and sinking land also affects localized "net" changes. Norfolk VA has had a approximate net change of 14-16", including the ~8" of ocean rise. This has made it necessary for the US Navy to rebuild their piers at the base there so they are high enough again.
There were numerous references to ocean rise in relation to superstorm Sandy.
|