Africa's Atlantic Coast Sea Level Rise: A 30,000-Year Study by the University of Pisa

A recent international study led by Professor Matteo Vacchi of the University of Pisa, published in *Nature Communications*, reveals that the sea level along Africa's Atlantic coast has risen by over 100 meters since the peak of the last ice age, approximately 30,000 years ago. This research provides a comprehensive reconstruction of sea-level changes in the region over millennia. The study identifies three main periods of change: during the Last Glacial Maximum, sea level was about 100 meters lower than today. As the Earth warmed, the ocean rose rapidly, with deglaciation causing sea levels to rise up to 25 millimeters per year, much faster than today's average. Between 7,500 and 1,700 years ago, sea level reached a high point, even higher than present levels in some areas, before stabilizing and then rising again in the last 100 years due to human-caused climate change. Coastal regions in West Africa, which generate over half of the region's GDP and support a large population, are particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise. The research highlights the importance of understanding past sea-level changes to better prepare for future impacts, especially in regions like Africa that are disproportionately affected by climate change despite contributing little to global greenhouse gas emissions.