Submerged French cave doesn't disprove human-induced sea level rise

What was Claimed

Humans aren’t impacting sea level rise because sea levels have risen for centuries

Our Verdict

False. Evidence shows that rising sea levels since the 19th century are caused by human activity.

AAP FACTCHECK - A prehistoric cave now submerged underwater is supposedly proof that humans aren’t contributing to rising sea levels, a Facebook post claims.

This is false. The entrance to the cave was covered by rising sea levels after the end of the last ice age thousands of years ago. Recent data shows humans are causing sea levels to increase via climate change.

The post appears in a Facebook group called “Australian Climate Sceptics Group”, which AAP FactCheck has checked previously.

“Does anyone else find it ironic that we are surrounded by irrefutable evidence that sea levels have been rising on this planet for Centuries, but suddenly it’s a man-made crisis?” the post states.

The post includes an article about the Cosquer Cave, an archaeological site near Marseille, France that has been submerged since its last human habitation around 20,000 years ago.

One of the Facebook posts spreading the false claim.
Experts debunked the claim, which is doing the rounds on social media.

Experts told AAP FactCheck that while it’s correct that sea levels have been rising for millennia, there’s a distinct difference between the prehistoric rises that submerged the Cosquer Cave and the modern trends attributed to climate change.

Professor Ivan Haigh, an expert in ocean and earth science from the University of Southampton, said the post’s conclusion is “completely wrong”.

He said what caused the sea level rise resulting in the cave being submerged was the earth moving out of the last ice age, which peaked around 20,000 years ago.

However, Prof Haigh said the rate of change observed in the last 150 years “is very definitely driven by human induced climate change”, via melting of land-based ice due to warming temperatures.

"In recent years scientists have been able to... show very precisely what the drivers of the recent modern trends are and the majority of this can be traced to climate change," Prof Haigh said.

Ice shelf in Antarctica.
Sea level rise after the last ice age doesn't disprove recent human-induced increases.

Emeritus Professor John Church, from the University of New South Wales, told AAP FactCheck that the post implied “incorrect conclusions based on a lack of understanding”.

Prof Church explained that global sea levels rose rapidly by 120 metres after the end of the last ice age up to about 7,000 years ago.

He said sea levels then remained largely steady for thousands of years, only increasing around a few tenths of a millimetre each year on average.

However, sea level rise accelerated from the late 19th century following the Industrial Revolution.

Prof Church said that “global mean sea level rise is now an order of magnitude larger than the preindustrial values”, increasing about 4mm per year, and that rate is continuing to rise.

Ulster University’s Professor Andrew Cooper also refuted the post’s claim.

He said that modern observations with tide gauges and satellite data “record a long-term increase in sea level that is matched by rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and these can be attributed to human activities”.

The Verdict

False – The claim is inaccurate.

AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store