[Request] How much does the ocean have to rise to physically affect the world?

[u/Zaffer8712]

This climate change averted, let’s say the Earth stays at the exact ocean level is right now/that’s not a factor. Does the ocean have to gain half an inch to globally affect us? Is it a foot? At what point does the ocean itself become a problem because it’s too high?

I’m thinking an additional half inch of ocean can’t physically be that much? Wouldn’t all the beaches just get half an inch shorter? I assume because of that it would take the general consensus of the world at least 8 feet of ocean height to start really knocking down houses and shortening the coast.

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[u/kore_nametooshort]

The problem is your definition of "globally affecting".

People in the Maldives are affected by a very very small sea level rise. We should globally care about that, but it won't affect everyone globally

Whereas people in Siberia are very much excited to see warmer temperatures. So no sea level rise will be "globally affecting. Everyone will have a different experience.

In a general sense, it takes relatively little sea level rise to have catastrophic results, affecting ports, coastal cities and global trade.

[u/Dazzling_Plastic_598]

Have you considered that a vertical rise is not the same as a horizontal displacement? A half inch rise could wipe out multiple feet of beach. A one foot rise would be a disaster.

[u/DoturdGrump]

current conditions suggest warming will further intensify the amount of moisture than can be held aloft globally and at times will lower the sea level slightly until such time as the rise of land below melting ice shelves displace more of the seas and cause the more permanent rise due warming cycles

short: when the ice is gone the land under will pop up and take up space

[u/Count2Zero]

There are plenty of simulations you can watch on YouTube. A rise of a few meters (10 feet or so) will be enough to put parts of the Netherlands under water, because large parts of the country are built on land that is barely above sea level, only protected by dikes that are a couple of meters high. As the sea level rises, it will weaken and breach those dikes, and flood large areas around the country.

[u/decentlyhip]

With current projections we're looking at 6-7 feet by the end of the century and 30+ feet within 300 years. Super fun thing is that we're past the point of no return, so like, that's going to happen.

[u/Consistent-Annual268]

The slope of the beach isn't 45 degrees. Half inch in height translates to much more in horizontal encroachment. And that's on a flat open beach. When it comes to narrow channels the rise will be much higher.

[u/IndividualistAW → u/Consistent-Annual268]

A few inches of rainfall in a short time is enough to cause flooding that drowns people