Discover and Visualize Sea Level Rise Data – Earthdata

Discover and Visualize Sea Level Rise Data  Earthdata

Discover and Visualize Sea Level Rise Data – Earthdata

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sea Level Rise

Introduction

Tide gauge records of sea level date back more than 200 years, with some records extending back to 1807. However, the acquisition of global sea level height data calibrated and processed for scientific research only began with the launch of the first satellite ocean altimetry missions in the 1990s. By combining satellite altimetry data with tide gauge data, it becomes evident that global sea levels are rising, and the rate of this rise is increasing.

Impact of Changing Sea Levels

Changing sea levels have significant implications for human activities in coastal areas. The rise in sea level leads to the inundation of low-lying wetlands and dry land, erosion of shorelines, coastal flooding, and increased saltwater intrusion into estuaries and nearby groundwater aquifers. Furthermore, higher sea levels make coastal infrastructure more vulnerable to storm damage. The primary contributors to the rise in mean sea level are the thermal expansion of water as it warms and the addition of freshwater from melting terrestrial ice sheets and glaciers, both of which are influenced by a warming global climate.

NASA’s Contribution

NASA plays a crucial role in providing data from Earth-observing satellites and socioeconomic surveys to understand the impact of sea level rise on cities, coasts, and other developed areas, as well as the populations and communities at risk. Our data products include coastal water quality indicators, glacier and ice sheet data, and mangrove forest distribution maps, which are valuable resources for studying sea level rise and its effects.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 14: Life Below Water
  • SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
  • SDG 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
  • SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

  • Sea level height data from tide gauges and satellite altimetry missions can be used to measure the rate of sea level rise, which is relevant to SDG 13.1.
  • Coastal water quality indicators can be used to measure marine pollution, which is relevant to SDG 14.1.
  • Glacier and ice sheet data can be used to measure the contribution of melting terrestrial ice sheets and glaciers to sea level rise, which is relevant to SDG 13.1.
  • Mangrove forest distribution maps can be used to measure the degradation of natural habitats and loss of biodiversity, which is relevant to SDG 15.5.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 13: Climate Action 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. – Sea level height data from tide gauges and satellite altimetry missions
– Glacier and ice sheet data
SDG 14: Life Below Water 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution. – Coastal water quality indicators
SDG 15: Life on Land 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. – Mangrove forest distribution maps

Source: earthdata.nasa.gov