Thermal expansion will raise sea water levels

2001/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

According to a piece of news published in the previous issue, the Antarctic ice sheet has receded more slowly than expected, so thaw has not affected the sea water level so much.

However, another factor to consider is thermal expansion. As is known, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increasing and, as a result, the temperature of sea water is constantly increasing.

The Australian research body CSIRO has analyzed the possible consequences of this phenomenon. According to John Church, a member of the country, between 1990 and 2100 the sea water level will increase between 9 and 88 cm and the average water temperature between 1.4 and 5.8 °C. In addition, once the gas concentration has been stabilized, the sea water level will continue to rise. As a result of this increase, it is expected, among other things, that thunder is more frequent and violent, especially in coastal countries.