How and Why Sea Levels are Rising
Sea levels are rising because of two main reasons: melting ice and warming oceans. Let's start with the ice. When the Earth gets warmer because of climate change, glaciers and ice sheets in places like Antarctica and Greenland start to melt. This melted ice turns into water and flows into the oceans, causing the sea levels to rise, just like adding more water to a bathtub.
The second reason is that warmer water takes up more space than cooler water. When the oceans absorb the extra heat from the warming Earth, the water expands. Think about how a balloon gets bigger when you blow warm air into it. This expansion of ocean water makes sea levels go up even more.
Rising sea levels are a big deal for humans because many people live near the coast. Higher sea levels mean that coastal areas can get flooded more easily, especially during storms. This can damage homes, schools, and other buildings, and sometimes people have to move to safer places. It also means that salty seawater can get into places where we grow our food or get our drinking water, which can be a problem.
So, when sea levels rise, it affects a lot of things that are important to us. That's why it's important to understand climate change and take actions to help slow down the warming of our planet, like using less energy from fossil fuels and protecting our forests. By doing this, we can help protect our homes and the places we love.