If global warming is taking place, then how much higher is the sea level now than 100 years ago, and how much higher will it be in the next 100 years?
Global-average sea level is believed to have risen by between 10-20 cm during the past century and best estimates are that it will rise by approximately 50 cm in the next 100 years (i.e. an acceleration of a factor of 3 in the rate). Rising sea levels are largely a consequence of the thermal expansion of the ocean, melting of low latitude glaciers (Alps, Rockies etc.) and many other factors, each of which are reviewed every few years by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). For full references of the IPCC reports see the suggested Reading List (1): Books on Tides and Sea Levels in the PSMSL training web pages. The reports themselves should be obtainable from any decent library.
