Why Are Sea Levels on the Rise?

Send us Fan MailThis report from The Washington Post, published December 20, 2024, examines the accelerating sea-level rise along the U.S. Southeast coast using the Fort Pulaski tide gauge in Georgia as a case study. Ninety years of data from this gauge, and others across the region, reveal a rate of increase exceeding most climate model predictions. Multiple factors contribute, including melting ice sheets, land subsidence, and warming ocean waters. The consequences are already impacting coastal communities through increased flooding and infrastructure damage, foreshadowing a broader global crisis. The report uses charts, maps, and images to illustrate the data and its implications.Support the show