Scientists are now alarmed at the rate of how sea levels are rising, as they are now several times faster compared to the past 2,800 years, which is caused by greenhouse gas missions leading to global warming.

A team of scientists excavated from at least two dozen locations around the world in order to chart how sea levels rise and fall over hundreds of years and even millenia. During the 1880s and the industrial revolution, sea levels were rising faster than ever before at three to four centimeters every 100 years. During that period, global sea levels did not exceed 7.5 centimeters during a 2000-year average. 

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However, in the 20th century alone, the world's oceans have risen 14 centimeters, where this trend began in 1993 when the rate became 30 centimeters for every 100 years. In two separate studies, scientists reveal how the world's oceans will rise from 28 centimeters to 131 centimeters by the year 2100, that could depend on how much gas emissions are released that can be trapped in the planet's atmosphere.

According to lead author of the study, Bob Kopp from the Rutgers Climate Institute of the Rutgers University, there is no question that the highest levels are during the 20th century where the scientist and his team have examined sea levels from the past 3,000 years. This was triggered by a significant rise in fossil fuel use during that century, he adds.

In order to determine the rates of sea levels rising and falling over time, the team underwent a geological investigation, according to co-author of the study, marine scientist Ben Horton from Rutgers University. The team travelled to different sites and regions in the world, examining salt marshes in various coastal locations to search for different clues about how sea levels measured during different periods.

The team checked their figures with markers that indicate the rise of lead during the beginning of the industrial revolution where isotopes can be viewed by atomic age.

As the team charted sea level rise over hundreds of years, going back to 3,000 years, they have identified that there is indeed a downward spiral shift as the planet's sea levels began to rise during the industrial age, starting 200 years ago.

Scientists also determined how sea levels have been rising due to mostly man made sources where two thirds of nuisance coastal flooding in the 27 locales in the United States have been triggered by man-made global warming since 1950. 

According to co-author of the study, Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, as oceans continue to rise today, another 45 centimeters will be added causing more expense and damage from storm surges. Also, scientists say that in addition to fossil fuels,  this can also be attributed to basic science as warmer water expands and colder water contracts, based on properties of water.

These new studies are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.