A recent study challenges the widely held belief that global sea levels are rising at an accelerated rate due to climate change. Conducted by hydraulic engineer Voortman and independent researcher Rob de Voss, the research found that average sea level rise in 2020 was approximately 1.5 mm per year, translating to about 6 inches per century, which is significantly lower than the commonly cited figures of 3-4 mm/year.
Voortman noted the lack of local data analysis in previous research and decided to compare actual tide gauge data from 200 stations over at least 60 years. His findings indicated that most stations showed no significant acceleration in sea level rise, with fluctuations attributed primarily to local factors like earthquakes and construction, not global phenomena like CO2 emissions.
Voortman challenged existing models, particularly the IPCC’s, stating they overestimate local sea level rise. He emphasized the importance of understanding the difference between observed measurements and projections for effective coastal infrastructure planning. While not dismissing climate change entirely, he urged for more accurate representations of sea level changes to combat excessive fear surrounding the issue.
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