Article posted Thursday, June 18, 2015 11:28am

There are thousands of gauges around the globe that measure sea level. Some records date back to the 18th century, but of tidal swings and other factors, data from these stations are subject to misinterpretation. Now that satellites have become involved, it is easier to measure changes in sea level. The most recent assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that sea level rose 1.2 mm a year between 1901 and 2010. However, new research using satellite records and statistical data indicates that sea level is actually rising 3 mm a year, much faster than previously thought. A study group found that even with the lower estimate of sea level rise, by 2050 in the U.S. land worth between $66 billion and $106 billion would be flooded. (The Economist, Jan. 17, 2015; other sources)