Ocean levels see record rise as ice melts faster

OCEAN levels are rising at a record rate as temperatures soar and sea ice hits a new low.

The increase – which has seen sea levels rise at an ‘alarming’ pace of 3.1mm a year – is higher than observed at any time in the 20th century.

Ice is also melting at a rapid rate – with the Arctic losing the equivalent of an area six times the size of Germany between 1979 and 2020.

The findings, from the European Commission-backed Ocean State Report, have raised fears about the impact of rising sea levels on coastal communities. This could include more damaging flooding – such as the ‘Acqua Alta’ floods that devastated Venice in 2019.

The University of Reading’s Dr Alex Arnall, who was not involved in the report, said rising sea levels are no longer a ‘future problem’ and are already causing problems around the world.

The study, published by the Copernicus Marine Service, used satellite observations, ocean measurements and computer models. But the University of Bristol’s Dr Matt Palmer said more monitoring was ‘critical’ to understand climate change.