China: Coastal Sea Level Reaches Record Highs (Report)

Shanghai, 23/03/2017 (MAP) – Chinese coastal sea levels hit record highs in 2016, due to climate change and other climate disturbances such as El Niño and la Niña, said China’s State Oceanic Administration.

The average coastal sea level rose 38 millimeters last year compared to the previous year, and witnessed record-breaking peaks all through the months of April, September, November and December, according to an annual report published on Wednesday by China’s State Oceanic Administration.

The report warned of climate change global effects, the rise of atmospheric and sea coasts’ temperatures and the decrease of atmospheric pressure on the coasts.

China’s coastal sea level has been rising about 3.2 millimeters each year since 1980, which is higher than the global average rise expected over the same period. During the 1980-2016 period, sea temperatures have been increasing by an average of 0.21 degrees Celsius per decade.

According to the Oceanic administration, marine disasters caused 60 deaths and direct economic loss of five billion Yuan (672 million Euros) in 2016.