![Melting glaciers in Greenland. - [Image credit – Christine Zanino, Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/2/13/660x290/b_502x220x82/melting-glaciers-in-greenland-image-credit-christine-zanino-wikimedia-commons_1830233.jpg "Melting glaciers in Greenland. - [Image credit – Christine Zanino, Wikimedia Commons]")
Global warming is a component of climate change and a major issue that the world is trying to address. There have been controversies on whether the increase in temperatures really leads to Sea Level Rise, and a study undertaken by the University of Colorado-Boulder has confirmed the phenomenon.
According to CNN, the team has accessed satellite data from 1993 onward and concluded that the sea level has risen considerably over the past 25 years. The increase is more or less the same as the generally accepted current rate of sea level rise, which works out to be about three millimeters (0.1 inches) per year.
Emission of greenhouse gasses, coupled with the melting of glaciers, are responsible for the rise in sea level.
The future is bleak
In case global warming is not arrested, the future would be bleak. If emission of greenhouse gasses continues, the sea level rise could reach dangerous levels by 2100 which would be catastrophic. Such a rise would endanger cities located in coastal regions all over the world and they would experience extreme high tides and surges from strong storms. It has happened in the past and could happen again.
The researchers relied on data from a NASA mission to identify the reason for the accelerated rate of melting of the ice. The mission used satellites to measure changes in ice mass to understand the variation in the amount of ice lost or gained in Antarctica between 2002 and 2016.
Some of this could be attributed to the general logic of warm waters in the oceans. The other factors are the melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica, coupled with mountain glaciers that end up in the oceans.
Emission of greenhouse gasses must be controlled
According to the EPA, global warming is a result of greenhouse gasses generated by human activities.
In the United States, these originate from burning fossil fuels like coal, diesel, and petrol. Coal is used in furnaces, apart from generating electricity, diesel drives locomotives and generators while petrol is meant for automobiles.
The Paris accord on climate change in 2015 has raised awareness about the burning problems and it is necessary to locate alternatives to fossil fuel.
Solar power is gaining importance as is the concept of electric cars. In fact, the demand for electric cars is growing, which is a positive trend. A report in CNN has indicated that China plans to phase out production and sales of vehicles powered only by fossil fuels. There are other countries like France, Britain, Norway, and Germany who could be following suit.
Global warming is leading to sea level rise. This could, in turn, affect the lives of people who live in coastal areas because they would have to face natural disasters like hurricanes and floods with loss of lives and property.
