Some countries may get washed away as the sea level rises

Sea levels are increasing fast due to global warming. The rate of increase has been more than 100%, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

While it was around 0.06 inch, or 1.4 mm, per year during most of the 20th century, it rose to 0.14 inch, or 3.6 mm, a year between 2006 and 2015.

It will affect the lives of close to 250 million people all over the world by 2100, according to a study conducted by the journal Nature Communications in 2019. The sea levels are expected to increase by a minimum of 1 foot, 0.3 m above by the start of 2100.

If the sea levels increase at this pace, first among the countries that will be most affected is the Maldives, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). This Asian country, which houses around 540,000 people, is our planet’s flattest nation. The Maldives, a nation with an average elevation of only 3 feet, will lose 77% of its land mass by 2100 if the sea level rises to 1.5 feet.

As per the Science and Development Network, about 3 million people living in the islands of the Pacific within a range of 10 km will have to relocate before 2100 approaches.

But the country in which 43 million people will be affected is China, as they live in risky coastal areas. Bangladesh and India will see 32 million and 27 million people of their populations, respectively, by 2100, according to the Life Adaptate project, an EU-funded organization. Many cities located on the coastal shores would see their share of the effect.

Source: livescience.com