Why Is Sea Level Rising?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Welcome aboard, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why is sea level rising?

The Big Idea

Sea level is rising for two main reasons. First, warm water takes up a little more room, which is called thermal expansion. Second, ice on land melts and adds extra water to the sea. Extra room plus extra water makes the sea taller.

Step 1

Step one: the ocean takes up heat. As Earth warms, the ocean soaks up most of the extra heat.

Step 2

Step two: water expands a little. When water warms, its tiny molecules jiggle farther apart, so the same water takes up more room.

Step 3

Step three: land ice melts and extra water joins the sea. Ice sheets and glaciers on land, like in Greenland and Antarctica, add new water when they melt. High tides then reach new streets.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at the causes! Expanding water is warm water spreading out and taking more room. Melting ice sheets add water from land. And the higher tide line shows how a coast can feel the change.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A few millimeters a year can add up, especially on low coasts. Sea level isn't the same everywhere, because of currents and sinking land. Floating sea ice barely changes the level when it melts, like ice cubes in a glass. Look at flood maps with a grown-up, and stay out of storm drain water.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Why doesn't floating sea ice raise the level much when it melts? What two sources do raise it? With a grown-up, mark the water level on a glass with ice cubes, and watch it as they melt.

Outro

A rising sea is extra room plus extra water. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!