Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Africa Faces Faster Sea Rise
Coverage from Reuters, Phys.org, and others
Articles
4
Latest Article
03/22
Active Days
51
Executive Summary
Studies find African seas are rising faster than the global average, with El Nino and warming oceans worsening flood, erosion, and saltwater risks
- World Weather Attribution linked southern Africa floods to climate change and La Nina
- Extreme rainfall intensity has risen about 40 percent since preindustrial times
- Flooding since December killed 200 people and affected hundreds of thousands
- Africa's seas have risen about 11.26 cm since 1993 and the rate is accelerating
- The 2023 to 2024 El Nino added 2.34 cm to global sea level rise
- Thermal expansion from warmer oceans caused more than 70 percent of the sea level spike
- Coastal impacts include flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion, and fisheries damage
Quick Facts
- What: Warming oceans and El Nino are raising sea levels
- Where: Southern and coastal Africa, especially western and eastern coasts
- Why: Heat expansion and climate change are driving greater risk
- Who: Researchers, coastal communities, and flood hit countries
- When: Trends measured from 1993 to 2024 and recent floods
Coverage Timeline: 51 Days
Featured Article
Researchers using 32 years of satellite measurements report accelerating sea-level rise around Africa, driven by ocean warming and ice-sheet melt, increasing coastal flood and saltwater intrusion risks.
Additional Articles
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Researchers attribute recent floods in southern Africa to climate change and La Nina, triggering monitoring and preparedness efforts.
Researchers report Africa faced record sea level surges during the 2023-2024 El Nino, driven by ocean warming, affecting coastal communities and infrastructure.
A study of 1993-2024 radar altimetry reports African sea levels rose about 11.26 cm, with accelerating warming-driven thermal expansion and an El Niño spike of 27 mm in 2023-2024.