June 10, 2010 Sea levels may rise by as much as one metre before
the end of this century, according to new predictions. Melting
glaciers may contribute more to the rise in sea levels than
scientists have previously realised. 150 million people will be
affected Sea levels can be expected to rise by between 0.5 and
1.5 metres before the next century, according to the report
Melting Snow and Ice: A Call for Action, published by the
Norwegian Polar Institute, which attracted a lot of attention at
the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December last year.
"Melting glaciers and the melting ice sheets in the Arctic and
Antarctic will account for 75% of the rise in sea levels, while
expansion of the water as it warms will account for 25 %," said
Director Jan-Gunnar Winther of the Norwegian Polar Institute.
Such a rise in sea levels will have a tremendous impact on
coastal communities around the world. There are 150 million
people who live within one metre of the current coastline, and
who will be severely affect