India, March 17 -- Global sea level rose faster than expected in 2024, mostly because of ocean water expanding as it warms, or thermal expansion, according to a NASA-led study.
Last year's rate of rise was 0.23 inches per year, compared to the expected rate of 0.17 inches per year.
"The rise we saw in 2024 was higher than we expected," said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "Every year is a little bit different, but what's clear is that the ocean continues to rise, and the rate of rise is getting faster and faster."
Last year's increase was due to an unusual amount of ocean warming, combined with meltwater from land-based ice such as glaciers.
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