New York Oct 8 (IANS) Owing to continuous emissions of greenhouse gases increased global average sea-level is likely to rise by nearly 8 feet by the year 2100 and 50 feet by 2300 as per a new study.
According to the researchers from Rutgers University under moderate emissions central estimates of global average sea-level range from 1.4 to 2.8 feet by 2100 another 2.8 to 5.4 feet by 2150 and 6 to 14 feet more by 2300.
In addition with 11 per cent of the world s population living in areas less than 33 feet above sea level rising seas pose a major risk to coastal populations economies infrastructure and ecosystems around the world the study found.
"There is much that is known about past and future sea-level change and much that is uncertain. But uncertainty is not a reason to ignore the challenge " said study co-author Robert E. Kopp Professor from the varsity.
"Carefully characterising what is known and what is uncertain is crucial to managing the risks sea-level rise poses to coasts around the world " Kopp said.
Importantly sea-level rise varies over location and time and scientists have developed a range of methods to reconstruct past changes and project future ones.
In addition from 2000 to 2050 global average sea-level will most likely rise about 6 to 10 inches but is extremely unlikely to rise by more than 18 inches.
As per the study published in the journal Annual Review of Environment and Resources a large portion of sea-level rise in the 20th century including most of the global rise since 1975 is attributed to human-caused global warming.
Since the beginning of the century global average sea-level has risen by about 0.2 feet the researchers said.
The team discussed approaches for using scientific sea-level projections and how accurate projections can lead to new sea-level research questions.

--IANS pb/vc/nir