Warning on rising Med Sea levels

Earth Changes



The level of the Mediterranean Sea is rising rapidly and could increase by up to half a metre in the next 50 years, scientists in Spain have warned. Levels have been rising since the 1970s with the rate of increase growing in recent years. If the trend continues it would have "very serious consequences" in low-lying coastal areas even in the case of a small rise, and "catastrophic consequences" if a half-metre increase occurred. Scientists noted that sea temperatures had also risen significantly by 0.12 to 0.5C since the 1970s. The findings are consistent with other investigations into the effects of climate change. Last month, a study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said the world's sea levels could rise twice as much this century as UN climate scientists had previously predicted. The IPCC predicts a maximum sea level rise of 81cm (32in) this century.