CAMBRIDGE, England, July 9 (UPI) -- British and American scientists said an analysis of recent sea level change indicates the effect of global warming may be overstated.
Scientists at Cambridge University, the University of California, La Jolla, and other institutions, said freshwater added to the global ocean, combined with the effects of warming, has led to a rise of more than 0.04 inches (1.1 millimeters) per year, which is slightly lower than previous estimates.
The figures are based on approximately 170 million gallons (650 cubic kilometers) of freshwater flowing -- or falling as rain -- into the world's oceans each year. The result is a sea level increase that is slightly below previously published estimates of between 0.06 inches and 0.08 inches (1.5 millimeters to 2 millimeters) per year.
The scientists said melting sea ice, seen in shrinkage and thinning observed on the edges of the Arctic ice sheet, contributes nearly two-thirds of the new freshwater and also leads to reducing the salinity of seawater, but does not cause any changes to the sea level.
They also said any sea-level increase from freshwater running from the land has been offset by a growth in the Antarctic ice sheet.
