Finding open water in Greenland's icy seas

In an effort to better understand the ocean's role in Greenland's rapid ice loss, researchers must drop scientific probes safely into open water around the island's coast. Full story ›

Scientists ID three causes of Earth's spin axis drift

NASA has identified three processes responsible for wobbles in Earth's axis of rotation: water mass loss primarily in Greenland, glacial rebound, and mantle convection. Full story ›

Keeping score on Earth's rising seas

A science team tallies up the many contributions to sea level rise, such as melting ice and warming, expanding oceans. Full story ›

Successful launch of ice-observing mission

NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite successfully launched from California on Saturday, embarking on its mission to measure the ice of Earth’s frozen reaches with unprecedented accuracy. Full story ›

ICESat-2 scientists to investigate icy mysteries

Seven scientists from an upcoming ice-observing satellite mission describe what they are most excited to study once the data are flowing. Full story ›

Global Mean Sea Level

3.2

± 0.4
mm/yr
Ocean Mass

1.8

± 0.3
mm/yr
Steric Height

0.8

± 0.2
mm/yr
Greenland Ice Mass Change

286

± 21
Gt/yr
Antarctica Ice Mass Change

127

± 39
Gt/yr

Research and Resources

Data Search

Ocean

Ice

Land Hydrology

Solid Earth

Data Tools

Data Analysis Tool - Beta Version

Analyze NASA data with the Data Analysis Tool. Perform regional statistical analysis, time series analysis and comparison.
Virtual Earth System Laboratory

The Virtual Earth System Laboratory includes simulations related to glaciers, ice sheets, sea level and solid earth.

Understanding Sea Level

NASA keeps track of sea level change and its causes from space. Find out more about how NASA satellite observations help our understanding of this complex topic.

Causes

Observations

Projections

Adaptation

Learn more about why sea level is rising, the different causes, current and past rates.

Learn more about Causes

Understanding Sea Level

NASA keeps track of sea level change and its causes from space. Find out more about how NASA satellite observations help our understanding of this complex topic.

Causes

Learn more about why sea level is rising, the different causes, current and past rates.

Learn more about Causes ›

Observations

Learn more about how sea level is measured, the different types of observations, measurement techniques, and how data can be merged to form a long-term climate record.

Learn more about Observations ›

Projections

Learn more about how models forecast the future of sea level, and how different components contributing to sea level change are predicted to evolve over time.

Learn more about Projections ›