Sea Level Rise Threatens Millions More Than Previously Thought
Sea Level Rise Threatens Millions More Than Previously Thought
US · Published Mar 4, 2026
New research reveals that sea levels are higher than previously estimated, putting millions more at risk of flooding.
The study found that coastal water heights were underestimated by about 1 foot (30 centimeters) in many scientific studies, especially in the Global South, Pacific, and Southeast Asia.
If sea levels rise by more than 3 feet (1 meter) by the end of the century, up to 37% more land could be inundated, affecting 77 million to 132 million additional people.
Sea levels higher; more people at risk
A recent study in *Nature* has uncovered that previous estimates of sea levels were lower than the actual levels, significantly increasing the number of people at risk of flooding due to climate change. The study points out that many scientific analyses have underestimated coastal water heights by around 1 foot (30 centimeters), especially in the Global South, Pacific, and Southeast Asia. This underestimation is due to inconsistencies in measuring sea and land altitudes, resulting in inaccurate assessments of the true impact of rising sea levels.
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