Sea Level Dropping?

According to NASA, mean sea level dropped by 6 mm in the last year. This may not sound like much, but it is a significant drop considering that sea level had been rising at an average rate of 3 mm per year over the last two decades. According to NASA, La Nina is the reason behind the drop in sea level. The La Nina Pattern that largely dominated over the last year deposited heavier than normal amounts of rainfall on the continents -- especially Australia and northern South America. However, other scientists believe the oceans may have cooled in the last year. Since cool water generally takes-up less volume than warm water, it can contribute to a drop in sea level as well. For more on this topic, click here.