Washington, Dec 12 (Inditop.com) The rise in sea level along the US Atlantic coast was faster in the 20th century than over the past 4,000 years.
Using sediment cores from the Atlantic coast, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found significant spatial variations in land movement.
“There is universal agreement that sea level will rise as a result of global warming but by how much, when and where it will have the most effect is unclear,” said Benjamin P. Horton, the university assistant professor in earth and environmental science.
Sea level rise prior to the period is attributed to coastal subsidence. It is land lost to subsidence as the earth continues to rise in response to the removal of the huge weight of ice sheets during the last glacial period.
The process enhances sea level rise, which leads to shoreline erosion, loss of wetlands and threatens coastal populations, said the statement.
The study provides the first accurate dataset for sea level rise for the US Atlantic coast and demonstrate the possible effects of ice-sheet melting and thermal expansion for sea level rise.
The results appeared in the December issue of Geology.
