<p>It depends on which vertical datum your mountain elevation references.  If the elevation of the mountain is expressed in meters above mean sea level (or some other tidal datum) then yes.  If the elevation is expressed in meters above the geoid (a gravitational height) then no.  <a href="https://vdatum.noaa.gov/docs/datums.html" rel="noreferrer">See this link</a> for a tutorial on vertical datums.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-03T20:26:46.793Z
2023-01-03T20:28:18.647Z
2023-01-03T20:28:18.647Z
user28239
<blockquote>
<p>If the Sea level rises, will the mountains lose their height?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It depends on the mountain. Some mountains are rising due to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220407-how-tall-will-mount-everest-get-before-it-stops-growing" rel="noreferrer">plate tectonics</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-glacial_rebound" rel="noreferrer">isostatic rebound</a>. This can easily outpace sea level rise due to global warming. Some mountains are decreasing in height, not because of sea level rise but because of erosion. For example, the Appalachian mountains in the US and Canada are estimated to have once been as high as the Himalaya.</p>
<p>But in general, the answer is yes.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-31T08:40:20.970Z
Some estimate that the Appalachian mountains were even higher than the Himalaya, up to 10 km (33,000 ft) in elevation.
Giovanni
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-30T08:10:57.580Z
2022-12-30T08:10:57.580Z
David Hammen
<p>I read that the altitude of mountains is measured from the sea level. So, if the sea level rises significantly due to global warming, will the mountains and hills lose some of their altitudes and become less tall?</p>

<atmosphere><geography><sea-level><mountains><altitude>
If the Sea level rises, will the mountains lose their height?
Sooraj MV
# If the Sea level rises, will the mountains lose their height?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-12-30)

I read that the altitude of mountains is measured from the sea level. So, if the sea level rises significantly due to global warming, will the mountains and hills lose some of their altitudes and become less tall?

**Tags:** atmosphere, geography, sea-level, mountains, altitude


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-01-03. Score: 6

It depends on which vertical datum your mountain elevation references. If the elevation of the mountain is expressed in meters above mean sea level (or some other tidal datum) then yes. If the elevation is expressed in meters above the geoid (a gravitational height) then no. [See this link](https://vdatum.noaa.gov/docs/datums.html) for a tutorial on vertical datums.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2022-12-30. Score: 5

> If the Sea level rises, will the mountains lose their height?

It depends on the mountain. Some mountains are rising due to [plate tectonics](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220407-how-tall-will-mount-everest-get-before-it-stops-growing) or [isostatic rebound](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-glacial_rebound). This can easily outpace sea level rise due to global warming. Some mountains are decreasing in height, not because of sea level rise but because of erosion. For example, the Appalachian mountains in the US and Canada are estimated to have once been as high as the Himalaya.

But in general, the answer is yes.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Some estimate that the Appalachian mountains were even higher than the Himalaya, up to 10 km (33,000 ft) in elevation.  

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