The Effect of Rising Sea Levels on Global Coasts Essay

The Effect of Rising Sea Levels on Global Coasts - Essay Example Hence, the additional burden of climate change on these resources is a matter of concern. The rise in sea level is correlated with a global rise in temperature. The geographical impacts of rising sea levels include the flooding of major coastlines, changes caused to the coral reefs and marine life, the effects on wetlands, marshlands and tidal inlets, the outcomes on hurricanes and other occurrences, and changes in the chemical composition of oceans. The future effects of global warming on ice-bound polar regions may result in increasing rises in sea levels. The purpose of this paper is to determine the various geographical effects of rising sea levels on global coasts. The ways in which these will impact on mankind will be discussed, and the measures to reduce the adverse effects will be identified. Research evidence points to a discernible effect on the earth’s climate caused by greenhouse gases which emerge mainly from anthropogenic or human activities. These effects are intensifying in the 21st century with various climatic effects including a higher rate of global sea level rise (Warrick et al: 257). Wthin 30 kilometers of the coastline, 21% of the world’s population already lives and these populations are growing at twice the global average (Nicholls et al: S69). The potential impacts of sea-level rise are being assessed, in order to formulate policies and implement appropriate remedial measures. Major changes in sea level have occurred over the centuries, which is evident from eroded landforms such as cliffs, depositional features such as coral reefs, biological indicators such as organisms whose fossils indicate the position of the old shoreline, archaelogical remains such as submerged dwellings or ports, and historical documents and records (Haslett: 128). Unlike other forms of climate change, increasing rise in sea-level is already a global problem. Rising sea levels can directly submerge low-lying wetland and dryland