Royal Mail Climate Change Challenge Pack:
Station Information Sheets
Station 3: Effects on sea level
The oceans are expanding. The most obvious reason
for this is the extra water being released from the ice
caps as they melt. In addition the removal of the cold
ice causes the oceans to heat up. Expanded water
takes up more room than cold water, and this adds
to the overall rise in sea level.
Table 1. Distribution of world population in terms of distance from the nearest coastline
Distance from the
coast (km) Population (million)
up to 30 1147
If the shrinking West Antarctic ice sheet were to
melt completely, sea levels globally would rise by
around 5m, but that is unlikely. Scientists conclude
that by the end of the 21st century there is a 30%
probability of a 20cm rise, and a 5% chance of a
1m rise. These figures seem small until they are
compared with the millions of people in countries
like Bangladesh or the Pacific islands who live less
than 1–2 metres above sea level.
UNIT 1 STATION 3
In many places a rise of only 1m will have significant
effects on a large number of people. Around a fifth
of the world’s population lives near to the sea, often
because their countries may lack suitable dwelling
places inland.
Approximate density
percentage (people per km2)
20.6 382
In the last 100 years, sea levels have risen by
10–20cm globally and future rises are predicted
to be much greater than this. In 200 or 300 years’
time the cumulative rise in sea level will put millions
of people at risk.