Seeing hidden worlds under melting ice

Satellites, ships and planes reveal previously unknown geography beneath ice cover in Greenland and Antarctica. Full story ›

Melting beauty: The Patagonian icefields

South America's Patagonian icefields are melting away at some of the highest rates on the planet, contributing to sea level rise. Satellite images highlight this dynamic region. Full story ›

First laser light for GRACE Follow-On

The laser ranging interferometer (LRI) instrument has been successfully switched on aboard the recently launched twin U.S./German Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) satellites. Full story ›

OMG, the water's warm! NASA study solves glacier puzzle

A plume of warm water is the reason one of two adjoining glaciers in Greenland is melting almost four times as fast as the other. Full story ›

Prolific sea-observing satellite turns 10

An international oceanography satellite that is tracking the ongoing rise in global sea level marks a decade in orbit. 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 ›