The Discovery of Global Warming

September 2005      [HOME]     List of illustrations     BACK

Rising sea level in New York City: the tide gauge at the tip of Manhattan has measured an increase of roughly a quarter meter (ten inches) since 1920. Other sea-level gauges around the world, but not all, have seen similar rises since the late 19th century. The reasons, such as effects of melting glaciers, have been hard to determine. But in future, thermal expansion of seawater due to the higher temperatures already observed is expected to cause a continuing, indeed accelerating, rise.


NASA Earth Observatory, based on data from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies.