Coastal cities across the world are at a high risk of flooding by the end of the century, according to the results of a shocking new study.

Sea levels are set to rise by at least two feet (65cm) by 2100, more than twice as much as predicted by some models.

Melting ice in Greenland and Antarctica is largely responsible for the trend, experts say, described by the team as a 'game changer' in the climate change debate.

It could mean places as far flung as South Florida, Bangladesh, Shanghai and parts of Washington, D.C. being engulfed by rising waters.

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Coastal cities across the world are at a high risk of flooding by the end of the century. This could lead to a doubling of sea level rises by 2100. Places as far flung as South Florida, Bangladesh and Shanghai could be engulfed by rising waters (stock image)

The finding was made by a team of US researchers, including the University of Colorado.

In the first analysis of its kind, they used twenty-five years of satellite data to show current climate models which predict sea levels will rise at an increasing rate are correct.

They found that, since 1993, ocean waters have moved up the shore by an additional one millimetre (0.04 inches) per decade.

That's on top of a three millimetre (0.1 inch) steady annual increase.

This acceleration would means an additional millimetre sea rise per year for each of the coming decades.

If the oceans continue to change at this pace, sea levels will rise by 65cm (two feet) by the end of the century.

Models that assume the rate of increase remains constant predict a rise of of about 30cm (one foot).

New Orleans could become an island guarded by levies and floods ravage parts of the East Coast of the US with far greater frequency.

About the results study co-author Dr Gary Mitchum, associate dean and professor at the University of South Florida, said: 'I think this is a game-changer as far as the climate change discussion goes.

'For example, the Tampa Bay area has been identified as one of ten most vulnerable areas in the world to sea level rise and the increasing rate of rise is of great concern.'

Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere increase the temperature of air and water, which causes sea level to rise in two ways.

Experts used twenty-five years of satellite data to show current climate models are correct in predicting that sea levels will rise at an increasing rate. This graphic shows the factors involved in the calculating global mean sea level rises (blue), including El Niño weather patterns (green)

They found that, since 1993, ocean waters have moved up the shore by almost one millimetre (0.04 inches) per decade. That's on top of a three millimetre (0.1 inch) steady annual increase. This graphic shows the readings before (red) and after (blue) correction

First, warmer water expands, and this thermal expansion of the oceans has contributed about half of the 7cm (2.7 inches) of global average sea level rise observed over the last 25 years

Second, melting land ice flows into the ocean, also increasing sea level across the globe.

The team looked at satellite altimeter measurements taken since 1992, including data taken from the current Jason-3 satellite mission.

Episodes like volcanic eruptions can create variability in their measurements.

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 decreased the global average sea level just before the Topex/Poseidon satellite launch, for example.

In addition, global sea level can fluctuate due to climate patterns such as El Niños and La Niñas, the opposing phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (Enso).

These events influence ocean temperature and global rainfall patterns.

Experts used climate models to account for the volcanic effects and other datasets to determine the Enso effects.

WHAT IS THE JASON-3 CLIMATE-MONITORING SATELLITE AND HOW DOES IT WORK? The 1,200-pound (550 kg) Jason-3 satellite is the fourth in a series of ocean-monitoring satellites, which are now taking centre stage in monitoring Earth's climate. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from California on Sunday, January 17, 2016, and successfully put the satellite into orbit. The craft, which is now orbiting 830 miles (1,336 km) above Earth, bounces radio waves off the ocean and time how long it takes the reflected signals to return. The 1,200-pound (550 kg) Jason-3 satellite (artist's impression) is the fourth in a series of ocean-monitoring satellites, which are now taking centre stage in monitoring Earth's climate Satellite altimetry is a technique that uses orbiting spacecraft to make very accurate measurements of the height of Earth's land, ice and oceans. Jason-3 carries a radar altimeter system specially designed to make extremely accurate and precise measurements of the height and waves of the ocean surface. Each second, the Jason-3 altimeter bounces thousands of radar pulses off of the sea surface. A radiometer measures how the radar waves are slowed by the atmosphere and three additional instruments help measure the satellite's precise orbit. Satellite altimetry is a technique that uses orbiting spacecraft to make very accurate measurements of the height of Earth's land, ice and oceans. Jason-3 carries a radar altimeter system specially designed measure the height and waves of oceans Scientists can use the information provided by the satellite to calculate ocean heights to within 0.2 inches (0.5 cm). Heat, plus runoff water from melting ice sheets, causes ocean levels to climb, according to Nasa. Jason-3 can also chart ocean currents, which impact weather phenomena such as the powerful El Nino system, monitor tsunamis and track oil spills. More than 90 percent of all the heat being trapped in the Earth's ecosystem is going into the ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is one of five agencies partnering on the $180 million (£130 million), five-year Jason-3 program. Advertisement

This let them uncover the underlying sea-level rate and acceleration over the last quarter of a century.

They used data from the Grace satellite gravity mission to determine that the acceleration is largely being driven by melting ice.

The team also used tide gauge data to assess potential errors in the altimeter estimate.

Tide gauge measurements are essential for determining the uncertainty in the global mean sea level (GMSL) acceleration estimate, according to the team.

However, satellites give a better view of sea level rise, because samples are collected over the open ocean, rather than just along the coastline.

'This acceleration, driven mainly by accelerated melting in Greenland and Antarctica, has the potential to double the total sea level rise by 2100 as compared to projections that assume a constant rate,' added Steve Nerem, professor of aerospace engineering sciences at the University of Colorado, who led the study.

'And this is almost certainly a conservative estimate. Our extrapolation assumes that sea level continues to change in the future as it has over the last 25 years.

'Given the large changes we are seeing in the ice sheets today, that's not likely.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.