Sea levels began rising in 1863 with Industrial Revolution, study finds

An international study has found that the onset of modern sea level rise began in 1863 as the Industrial Age intensified.

The study, published earlier this month in the journal Nature Communications, analyzed a global database of sea level records spanning the last 2,000 years. They found that globally, the onset of rising sea levels began in 1863.

The database included records from 36 regions around the world with 2,274 sea level data points spanning from archeological evidence to the geochemistry of sediment.

Researchers say the rise of sea levels is an important indicator of climate change, and by identifying the time when modern sea level rates emerged, researchers can pinpoint the onset of significant periods of climate change.

In the U.S., modern rates emerged earliest in the mid-Atlantic region in the mid-to-late 19th century (1872-1894), and later in Canada and Europe, emerging by the mid-20th century (1930-1964).