Trending Now - Rising Sea Levels Threaten Millions More Than Earlier Estimates

WHO:

Philip Minderhoud, associate professor at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, co-author of the study.

Jonathan Bamber, director of the Bristol Glaciology Centre, scientist with 20 years of experience on sea level rise.

Matt Palmer, associate professor at the University of Bristol.

WHAT:

A study published in the journal Nature estimates that as many as 132 million more people may be in the path of rising seas than previously thought.

The study indicates that global coastal sea level is on average around 1 foot higher than currently assumed.

If sea levels rise by approximately 3 feet, 37% more land area and 68% more people would be affected than current projections suggest.

90% of 385 sea level rise studies analyzed from 2009 to 2025 relied on models that underestimated current sea levels.

WHERE:

Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region are highlighted as areas with significant underestimations of sea level rise.

The study references the Mekong Delta in Vietnam as a location where the water level was found to be higher than global studies accounted for.

WHEN:

The study analyzed peer-reviewed research published from 2009 to 2025.

Global sea levels have already risen 8 to 9 inches since 1880.

WHY:

The discrepancy in sea level measurements arises from traditional reliance on a gravitational model that does not account for factors like tides, ocean currents, and water temperature.

The study aims to provide a more accurate global picture of climate change impacts, especially for vulnerable countries.

HOW:

The research team analyzed 385 peer-reviewed studies to identify a "methodological blind spot" in sea level science.

The study suggests that combining model data with real-world satellite measurements is necessary for accurate sea level assessments.

(UPDATED March 9, 2026 13:21 UTC)

A new study published in the journal Nature reveals that as many as 132 million more people may be at risk from rising sea levels than previously estimated, with global coastal sea levels averaging about one foot higher than current assumptions. Researchers, including Philip Minderhoud from Wageningen University and Jonathan Bamber from the Bristol Glaciology Centre, found that if sea levels rise by approximately three feet, 37% more land and 68% more people would be affected, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The study analyzed 385 peer-reviewed research papers from 2009 to 2025, highlighting a significant underestimation of sea levels due to outdated models that fail to consider factors like tides and ocean currents.