• Space lasers reveal oceans rising faster than ever Rising global mean sea level (GMSL) is one of the clearest signs of a warming planet. • Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have produced the first highly precise 30-year (1993-2022) record of changes in global ocean mass, also known as barystatic sea level. • Their findings show that the growing mass of the oceans has played a leading role in pushing sea levels higher. • Over this period, GMSL increased at an average rate of about 3.3 mm per year, and the rate itself has been speeding up, underscoring the intensifying impact of climate change. • The study was published in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. • Sea level rise is mainly driven by two processes.

Article Summaries:

  • Space lasers reveal oceans rising faster than ever

A 30‑year study using satellite laser ranging (SLR) data from 1993‑2022 shows that global sea level has risen about 90 mm, with the rate accelerating. Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) produced the first direct record of ocean mass change, finding that melting land ice-primarily Greenland and mountain glaciers-now dominates the rise, contributing more than the thermal expansion of seawater. The average increase of 3.3 mm per year is the fastest in recorded history, underscoring the intensifying impact of climate change on sea‑level rise. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

  • Space lasers reveal oceans rising faster than ever - Date: - February 24, 2026 - Source: - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Summary: - A new 30-year analysis reveals that melting land ice is now the main force behind rising global sea levels. Researchers discovered that oceans rose about 90 millimeters since 1993, with most of the increase coming from added water mass rather than just warming expansion. Ice loss from Greenland and mountain glaciers accounts for the vast majority of this gain. Even more concerning, the rate of sea-level rise is accelerating. - Share: Rising global mean se

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