Sea level rise is a key indicator of climate change caused by anthropogenic activities. The annual averaged global mean sea level has increased from 1993 to 2024, mostly due to ocean warming (dashboard page 1). Similarly, Malaysia has also experienced a similar change in the global mean sea level (dashboard page 2). It is noticeable that the biggest cause of both the sea level rise are predominantly contributed by the sterodynamic (40%). It is the condition when seawater heats up, the thermal expansion of the seawater causes a rising sea level. Other key factors influencing the change is the melting glaciers and polar ice sheets.
The data was collected from NASA Earth Science (Sea Level Explorer). They use tide gauges and satellite measurements to understand sea level rise. Tide gauges measure relative sea level along local coastlines, while satellites accurately measure sea level change with 2 cm accuracy. The data presented is based on satellite measurements (Sentinel-6/Michael Freilich) on the global mean sea level change from 1993 to 2024. 2005 acts as a fixed reference point because NASA has identified it as the warmest year on record at the time, since the data collection began in 1800. 2005 has broken temperature records, being the warmest without the process of El Niño, a climate anomaly.
Dashboard 1 shows how the annual average global mean sea level has changed from 1993 to 2024. The line chart at the top reveals a general upward trend ever since. Below, a doughnut chart breaks down the main causes of sea level rise. The biggest cause is sterodynamic (40%). Other causes include melting ice from glaciers and polar regions, land movement, and changes in how water is stored on land. All these factors combine to influence sea level changes over time.
Dashboard 2 focuses specifically on the yearly average sea level changes in Malaysia from 1993 to 2024. The line graph shows that although there were fluctuations in the early years, sea levels have generally increased, especially after 2015. Below the graph, there is a doughnut chart that explains the main contributors of sea level rise in Malaysia. The largest contributor is also sterodynamic (40%), which ocean warming occurs, causing seawater to expand. Other contributors include melting glaciers and ice sheets (Greenland and Antarctica), vertical land motion, and changes in water storage on land. These natural and climate-related factors work together to affect how sea levels change over time.
Dashboard 3 shows how sea levels have changed from 1993 to 2024, comparing global sea level changes with those in Malaysia. The blue bars represent the global sea level change, while the purple bars show the changes in Malaysia. The lines show the overall trend for each one. Globally, sea levels are rising steadily, while Malaysia shows more ups and downs, with a general increase in recent years. The data shows that Malaysia is also affected by sea level rise, but the pattern is not exactly the same as the global trend.
*Global sea level change values shown are yearly averages based on multiple data points per year from NASA’s Sea Level Explorer. This may differ from NASA’s visualisations, which show monthly data.
NASA Earth Science. (2025). Sea Level Explorer – Global. URL:https://sealevel.nasa.gov/understanding-sea-level/global-sea-level/overview/. Date Accessed: 2 May 2025.
NASA Earth Science. (2025). Sea Level Explorer – Malaysia. URL: https://earth.gov/sealevel/sea-level-explorer/?country=MYS&scope=section_1. Date Accessed: 2 May 2025.
