Overview

• Global sea levels rose by 0.23 inches in 2024, exceeding the predicted 0.17 inches, according to NASA's satellite data.
• Thermal expansion, caused by ocean water warming, accounted for two-thirds of the rise, reversing the usual dominance of ice melt contributions.
• 2024 was the hottest year on record, with over 90% of trapped heat absorbed by the oceans, escalating sea level increases.
• Since 1993, global sea levels have risen by 4 inches, with the annual rate of increase more than doubling over three decades.
• Scientists warn that continued greenhouse gas emissions will exacerbate sea level rise, threatening coastal infrastructure and ecosystems worldwide.