Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 17, 2025

If you live in a coastal zone and have looked at maps of future sea level rise or have read about how climate change could be slowed with policy changes to reduce emissions, youve likely seen these scenarios in action. Four RCP scenarios describe different levels of radiative forcing in the atmosphere by 2100.

Radiation 168

Radiation Sea Level Climate Change Fossil Fuels 168

Real Climate

NOVEMBER 11, 2023

While temperatures provide a measure of the Earth’s climate, it is even better to use the global sea level , which provides a far more reliable measure. The global sea level acts like the mercury in a thermometer because warmer water expands.

Sea Level 345

Sea Level Greenhouse Climate Change Atmosphere 345

A Greener Life

JUNE 3, 2022

If people everywhere stopped burning fossil fuels tomorrow, stored heat would still continue to warm the atmosphere. Picture how a radiator heats a home. Water is heated by a boiler, and the hot water circulates through pipes and radiators in the house. The radiators warm up and heat the air in the room.

Carbon Dioxide 98

Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels Sea Level Ocean 98

Ocean Conservancy

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

The ocean has already absorbed 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases and 26% of the carbon dioxide emitted by humans burning fossil fuels. Warmer water also expands and raises sea levels as well as holds less oxygen. So, we’re seeing the ocean heat up, lose oxygen and get bigger.

Ocean 104

Ocean Sea Level Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide 104

A Greener Life

MAY 20, 2022

The Altiplano plateau in western Bolivia has some of the world’s highest and most consistent levels of solar radiation, creating a high potential for solar photovoltaic power in the region, but structural challenges may prevent scaling. Photo credit: Anyisa / Alamy. By Santiago Espinoza. Advantageous and encouraging.

Solar Power 98

Solar Power Fossil Fuels Radiation Natural Gas 98

Frontiers

AUGUST 7, 2023

While the main focus has been on operational activities in Antarctica, global warming caused by fossil-fuel burning by these (and other) countries has left Antarctica on the brink of irreversible change. In the Arctic this has led to regional warming four times faster than the global average.

Ocean 98

Ocean Fossil Fuels Radiation Environmental Science 98

Breezometer

JUNE 7, 2022

Warmer temperatures will encourage the melting of glaciers, ice fields, summer Arctic sea ice, and permafrost, some of which may be irreversible. Sea levels will continue to rise throughout the 21st century, contributing to more frequent and severe coastal flooding in low-lying areas along coasts around the world.

Climate Change 98

Climate Change 2030 2019 2010 98