Global sea levels rise due to polar ice melt and warming

Global sea levels have risen between 21 and 24 cm since 1880, driven by the melting of polar and mountain ice and the thermal expansion of warming seawater. Data from NASA indicates that approximately 49,000 gigatonnes of ice transitioned into seawater between 1901 and 2015.

While global warming is a frequent topic of discussion, there is a noted lack of focus regarding the specific fluctuations in the planet's total water volume, particularly the diminishing availability of freshwater in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and ice reserves.