Impacts of sea level change

Question 1

From the last glacial period how much have sea levels risen by?

Answer 1

125 metres

Question 2

What is the current rate of sea level change and why?

Answer 2

3.2mm a year mainly due to thermal expansion

Question 3

What do the IPPC predict?

Answer 3

sea level may increase by 0.44 metres by 2100

Question 4

What causes an increase in the volume of the ocean?

Answer 4

• natural/human warming related to greenhouse gas emissions
• water stored as ice released into oceans
• thermal expansion

Question 5

Natural causes of coastal flooding?(4)

Answer 5

1. global warming
2. storm surges from hurricanes
3. storm surges from low pressure
4. tsunamis

Question 6

Human causes of coastal flooding?(2)

Answer 6

1. global warming

2. coastal management

Question 7

Why is South-east Britain at greatest risk of flooding?

Answer 7

due to combined eustatic change and subsidence

Question 8

What percentage of the worlds population live within 100 km of the coast?

Answer 8

44%

Question 9

What will there be an intrusion of causing what?

Answer 9

intrusion of salt water beneath the land which could contaminate freshwater stores

Question 10

What would have to be moved upstream?

Answer 10

abstraction points of water to avoid the salt water

Question 11

Loss of what lands?

Answer 11

productive coastal/delta/river flood plain agriculture

Question 12

What could potentially adjust?

Answer 12

ecosystems but depends on how fast sea levels rise

Question 13

What has the rate of sea level rise recently increased to?

Answer 13

4-5mm a year