Sea level rises, Tanzania’s government admits
DODOMA: THE government has admitted that the Indian Ocean’s level keeps on rising, a geographical phenomenon caused by a number of factors including global warming.
Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union Affairs and Environment) Dr Selemani Jafo admitted the problem in Parliament on Friday when responding to the question posed by Moshi Rural MP Prof Patrick Ndakidemi.
Prof Ndakidemi sought the government confirmation on claims that India Ocean’s level on Tanzania territory rises due to climate change. He also queried about the effects of the geographical phenomenon.
Dr Jafo said, according to measurement and research carried out on the coast of Indian Ocean in Tanzania’s territory, the sea level has increased by an average of six millimetres in the past 22 years (since 2002).
He said effects brought about by rising sea levels include loss of beaches, soil erosion along the coast, destruction of transport infrastructure such as ports, roads, buildings and markets, and loss of biodiversity such a mangroves and marine vegetation.
Other effects include loss of arable land and human settlements, floods and loss of fresh water wells due to contamination with salty water from the sea.
Experts say global mean sea level has risen about 8–9 inches (21–24 centimetres) since 1880. The rising water level is mostly due to a combination of melting water from glaciers and ice sheets and thermal expansion of seawater as it warms.
They further say in 2022, global mean sea level was 101.2 millimeters (4 inches) above 1993 levels, making it the highest annual average in the satellite record (1993-present).
The global mean water level in the ocean rose by 0.14 inches (3.6 millimetres) per year from 2006–2015, which was 2.5 times the average rate of 0.06 inches (1.4 millimetres) per year throughout most of the twentieth century.
By the end of the century, global mean sea level is likely to rise at least one foot (0.3 metres) above 2000 levels, even if greenhouse gas emissions follow a relatively low pathway in coming decades.
