ABSTRACT
The greenhouse scenario postulates a worldwide increase in the sea level due to eustatic changes. Until recently the conventional belief was that the sea level was rising at a rate of 1.0-1.5 mm y-1 (Barnett 1983). The 1985 Villach Conference proposed a rise of 20-140 cm in the next century attributable mainly to thermal expansion of ocean water (WMO 1986). A sea level rise of this magnitude has destructive implications on the world’s coastline. Beach erosion would be accelerated, lowlying areas would be permanently flooded or subjected to more frequent inundation during storm events, and the base-line for the water table would be raised.
