Global warming is an international issue for both saving the Earth and humans. One of the reasons why global warming is a very serious problem is because of the rising of sea level. Many people raise their voices to help preserve the sea level because of the seriousness of this problem. It can cause many disadvantages to human lives.

▲ The rise of the sea level becomes a significant environmental problem as global warming worsen.

The reason why global warming affects the rise of the sea level is related to the collapse of glaciers and thermal expansion. Due to the worsening of global warming, the temperature of the Earth rises. If it constantly continues, the glaciers in the Antarctic will gradually melt, and it will result in the collapse of all glaciers. As the piece of a glacier melts in the ocean, the sea level will naturally rise. Furthermore, as the Earth gets hotter, the temperature of the sea also rises. Then, the volume of seawater will rise. This is called the thermal expansion effect. Eventually, it will also affect the rise of sea level.

▲ Glaciers of the Antarctic are still melting.

Then, what are the effects of the rising sea level? If the sea level rises continuously, it will invade areas of land. Residents of a town or a city located in a coastal area can be in dangerous situations. For example, according to the report of the Busan Development Institute in 2015, if the sea level rises two meters, a part of the Marine City in Haeundae, a department store in Centum City, and other residential areas would be flooded. Likewise, seawater would cover most land and almost all cities and towns would sink if it accelerates. Moreover, the ecosystem in the sea can be destroyed. By melting a piece of the glacier, freshwater flows in the seawater. It changes the salty attribute of the ocean, and it influences its ecosystem. For instance, a school of subtropical fish often appear in the sea of Jeju Island lately. The change of the ecosystem can cause competition and decrease of aboriginal species, so it is a dangerous sign.

▲ If the sea level rises, the ecosystem of the sea can be changed.

The rise of the sea level caused by global warming can harm not only the human environment but also the whole of nature. For the sake of the next generation, people should be careful and help preserve glaciers and decrease the use of fossil fuels to cool down the Earth.

November 15th, 2020

By Kang Jine Ie