NASA Reports Faster-Than-Expected Global Sea Level Rise in 2024

Earth's hottest year on record saw a significant increase in sea levels, driven primarily by thermal expansion and melting glaciers.

Global sea levels rose by 0.59 cm (0.23 inches) in 2024, surpassing the predicted rate of 0.43 cm (0.17 inches) per year, according to NASA's analysis.
The rise was largely attributed to thermal expansion, where warming ocean water expands, accounting for two-thirds of the increase, a reversal of previous trends dominated by ice melt.
2024 was officially the hottest year on record, with Earth's warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions contributing significantly to rising sea levels.
Since 1993, global sea levels have risen by 10 cm (3.93 inches), with the annual rate of increase more than doubling over the past three decades.
Rising sea levels threaten coastal and island communities worldwide, increasing risks such as storm surges, coastal erosion, and high-tide flooding.