Why are global sea levels rising and why is it worrying?
Yes, sea level is rising due to global warming. The current total rise is small, but there are indications that the rate will increase dramatically in the future. The cause of this warming is a matter of continuing and emotional debate. Many scientists feel that there may be natural fluctuations in average surface temperatures which are having an effect. This is certainly true, and may account for a portion of the temperature changes we are recording. However, many more scientists feel that human actions are contributing to the warming. We’re doing this by the burning of fossil fuels: coal, oil, and gas. Think of it this way: the earth’s atmosphere currently contains approximately 0.04% carbon dioxide. But this has not always been the case. Carbon dioxide levels were certainly much higher in the geologic past. For the past 3 billion years or so, plants have been using the carbon from carbon dioxide to make their cells, and have been releasing the oxygen as a waste product. This is a re
