The Relentless Progression of the Ocean: Regions at Risk of Disappearing and Ignored Alerts
The numbers no longer leave room for optimism and threaten to wipe territories off the map that currently house millions of people. The drama of Tuvalu and other regions in different parts of the planet paints a future where coastlines as we know them could disappear.
A problem that is already being felt worldwide
Driven by glacier melt and thermal expansion of water, sea level rise is not a uniform phenomenon, but its impacts are global. NASA estimates an average increase of 3.4 millimeters per year since 1993, while other sources state that the rate of rise has doubled in recent decades.
Tuvalu, an island nation already preparing for a planned migration to Australia, offers a preview of what other coastal communities could face in the coming years. Currently, many regions are running out of adaptation options, and artificial defenses are proving insufficient.
Factors driving sea level rise
Factors such as glacier melt and thermal expansion add billions of tons of water to the oceans each year, further raising sea levels. Additionally, human activities like groundwater extraction and dam construction alter the natural balance between land and ocean. Projections point to a possible rise of close to a meter by 2100 under high emission scenarios.
Most vulnerable areas and future displacements
In Bangladesh, a slight rise could flood a third of the country, while nearly 30% of the population in the United States lives in coastal risk zones. Argentina is already experiencing a 2-millimeter annual increase in areas like the Paraná Delta and Bahía Blanca.
Experts warn that extreme storms will multiply, destroying beaches and leaving entire communities defenseless. Climate migration, which may seem exceptional today, could become a massive phenomenon in the coming decades.
Preparing for a future with less solid ground is crucial. Adaptation strategies include planned migration, population relocation, and the construction of coastal defenses, although none offer definitive solutions.
The global challenge posed by sea level rise is twofold, threatening millions of people and redefining the world map.
