During 2015 the average estimated rate of global Sea Level rise since 1993 increased from 3.2 mm (±0.4 mm) annually to 3.3 mm (±0.4 mm). This indicates a slowly continually accelerating rate of Sea Level rise. In ClimatePositions the Sea Level rise between 1880 and 1993 is set at 1.2 mm annually, or 14.00 cm in total, and combined this adds up to a total estimated Sea Level rise between 1880 and 2015 of 21.26 cm (this figure is used in ClimatePositions).

The Sea Level rise 1960-1993 (linear average rise 1880-1993) and 1993-2015 is shown in the diagram below. Sea Level in 1880 is set at 0. The increased volume of the oceans is caused by two effects of global warming: melting ice and warmer oceans (water expands when warming up).

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National Climate Debts in ClimatePositions increase due to global Sea Level rise. An example: 24.3% of the accumulated Climate Debt of Saudi Arabia is due to the Sea Level rise between 2000 and 2015 (the 24.3% amounts to $53 billion or $7.57 per tons CO2 emitted from fossil fuels since 2000).

A hypothetical example: If the global Sea Level sensationally dropped to the level back in 1880, then the Climate Debts of all countries would drop to zero.

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Data on global Sea Level: University of Colorado (links in the menu “Calculations”).

Drawing by Claus Andersen, 2016.

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