Recent research highlights that global sea levels are rising at rates unmatched in the last 2,500 years, primarily due to human-induced climate change. NASA's satellite data, tracking sea level changes since 1993, reveals an increase of 101.9 millimeters.
According to a report by the United Nations, titled 'Surging Seas in Warming World,' over 410 million people may be at risk by 2100 due to rising sea levels. In the past decade alone, global sea levels have risen by more than 10 centimeters.
Since the early 20th century, the average global sea level has risen more rapidly than in any other century in the last 3,000 years, with the rate of increase accelerating. These measurements, primarily conducted via satellites, utilize radar signals to monitor ocean surfaces, allowing for global change observation and environmental vulnerability analysis.
Factors influencing sea level variations include weather conditions and the rapid melting of ice sheets, such as Greenland's. Satellite observations reveal 'fingerprints' of sea level changes, illustrating the impacts of ice melt and shifts in terrestrial water reserves. Additionally, the Mediterranean Sea has experienced the longest recorded heatwave in the past 40 years.