FIGURE 64.3 Rising sea levels. (a) Since 1870, sea levels have risen by 220 mm (9 inches). Future sea level increases are predicted to be 180 to 590 mm (7 to 23 inches) above 1999 levels by the end of this century. (b) Nearly 100 million people live within 1 m (3 feet) of sea level, such as on this island in the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
(a: Data from http://www.cmar.csiro.au/sealevel/index.html; b: WO/Shutterstock)