Sea levels rose even higher than anticipated last year, according to an analysis by NASA. Last year was the hottest on record for the planet — largely due to human-caused climate change — leading to a sea-level rise of nearly 0.

Last year saw an “unexpected” amount of sea level rise around the world, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Thursday. An analysis led by the agency found that the rate of rise was nearly a quarter of an inch per year, compared to an expected rate of 0.17 inches.

The world's sea levels grew far more quickly and by a larger amount than anticipated in 2024, mostly due to warming water temperatures, a new NASA analysis shows.