Climate change takes China sea levels to record high, study finds
- Government report finds coastal waters swollen by rising water temperatures and melting glaciers and polar ice caps
- Long-term effects include erosion of ecosystems and loss of tidal flats, while coastal cities face greater risks of floods and salt tides
In its annual report, the National Marine Environmental Monitoring Centre said coastal sea levels were 84mm (3.3 inches) higher in 2021 than the average over 1993 to 2011, swollen by rising water temperatures and melting glaciers and polar ice caps.
The centre, a national resources ministry research unit, urged authorities to improve monitoring and bolster early warning and prevention efforts.
The report, released on Saturday, said long-term effects include erosion of coastal ecosystems and the loss of tidal flats, while coastal cities face greater risks of floods and salt tides.
Coastal sea levels around China have now risen by an average of 3.4mm (0.13 inch) a year since 1980, higher than the global rate over the period.
Although the temperatures of China’s coastal waters fell slightly in 2021 from the previous year, they were still the third highest on record and 0.84 degrees Celsius (33.5 Fahrenheit) above the 1993-2011 average.