Sea Level Rise

The video explains the air-sea interface's role in defining sea level and how short-term factors like wind and atmospheric pressure cause fluctuations. It defines mean sea level and discusses long-term changes due to climate change. Rising sea levels lead to increased flooding and coastal risks, with Galveston, TX as a case study. The global rise in sea level is attributed to global warming, primarily due to melting ice and thermal expansion of seawater.

What is the primary role of the air-sea interface?

• To support marine life

• To regulate ocean temperature

• To prevent sea level rise

• To control atmospheric pressure

How is mean sea level determined?

• By observing wind patterns

• By measuring the highest tide

• By averaging sea surface height over time

• By calculating the lowest tide

What has been the trend in global mean sea level over the 20th century?

• It has fluctuated randomly

• It has risen by about 0.05 inches per year

• It has decreased

• It has remained constant

Which area is experiencing one of the fastest rates of sea level rise?

• Miami, FL

• New York, NY

• Los Angeles, CA

• Galveston, TX

What are the two main contributors to global sea level rise?

• Melting ice sheets and thermal expansion of seawater

• Increased evaporation and cloud formation

• Increased rainfall and river flow

• Volcanic activity and tectonic shifts