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Satellite image of the Florida Keys.
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Is Sea Level Rising?

The global average sea level has risen more than 7 inches in the past 100 years. A few inches may not seem like much, but every inch of sea level rise can cover 4 -9 feet of beach in seawater. Since 1992, NASA and its partners have been measuring global sea levels with satellites. Scientists have observed a global sea level rise of around 4 inches since then.

This animation shows Earth spinning in space with a satellite taking measurements. The satellite is a small gold and white box with two “arms” extending from its center. The “arms” each have four blue rectangles to represent solar panels. At the top of the satellite is a small white circle. This circle has a white transparent cone extending from it to Earth’s surface. The point of the cone is at the satellite and the bottom large circle is on Earth’s surface. Overlapping that cone is another cone made up of a series of red circles. The red circles get smaller as they reach the satellite and disappear into the box part of the satellite. These cones move across Earth’s surface as the animation continues. Earth is a sphere with light blue colored oceans and light green color landmasses. The background is dark gray with some white dots for stars placed randomly throughout the image.
Satellites help measure the global sea level of Earth. While other instruments can be used near shorelines, satellites allow scientists to measure far away places, including those in the middle of the ocean. This gives scientists a consistent view of how sea levels are changing over time.
NASA/JPL-Caltech

When Earth’s global temperature gets warmer, ice trapped on land begins to melt. This adds water to the ocean and raises global sea level.


But something else also causes sea level to rise. Water expands as it gets warmer. As the temperature of the ocean goes up, the water in the ocean actually expands and takes up more space. This also causes global sea level to rise.

That makes sea level an important measure of how our planet is changing.

Learn about how NASA satellites are keeping an eye on sea level rise!

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