Scientists Confirm What’s Driving Sea Level Rise — and It’s Alarming

Sea level rise has never been a single-cause problem, but a new international study says scientists can now explain its main drivers with much greater confidence. The finding matters because the oceans are not only rising — the pace has accelerated sharply since the 1960s.

The study, published in Science Advances and led by researchers in China, found that global average sea level has risen by 2.06 millimetres per year since 1960, increasing to 3.94 millimetres per year between 2005 and 2023. The biggest driver is warming seawater, but melting glaciers and ice sheets are becoming increasingly important.