Sea level 50 m lower at a glance
- 11.8 million km²seabed becomes land
- 8%of today's land area
- 96.8%of today's sea remains (350 million km²)
- 3of 10 land bridges open
With the sea 50 m lower than today, about 11.8 million km² of seabed becomes land, 8% of today's land area. 96.8% of today's sea, about 350 million km² of the 361.8 million km² connected to the open ocean, is still under water.
The exposed area counts only seabed connected to the open ocean. Lakes stay water, and basins below sea level on land, such as Death Valley, stay land. It is a simple bathtub model, not a forecast.
Land bridges at this sea level
These places are seabed today and dry land at this step. Each depth is the average seabed level at the point we checked, taken from the 1 arc-minute grid.
| Land bridge | Depth today | Dry from |
|---|---|---|
| Doggerland (North Sea) (opens at this step) | 43 m | 50 m lower |
| Irish Sea floor (opens at this step) | 48 m | 50 m lower |
| Sundaland (Java Sea) (opens at this step) | 40 m | 50 m lower |
The list holds 10 places that we checked against the grid. It is not every land bridge there has been.
Seas that shrink most at 50 m lower
| Sea, gulf or bay | Becomes land | Share of its water |
|---|---|---|
| Sea of Azov | 36,741 km² | 100% |
| Bo Hai | 75,284 km² | 98.5% |
| East Siberian Sea | 583,800 km² | 96.9% |
| Kattegat | 20,185 km² | 87.8% |
| Chukchi Sea | 247,480 km² | 73.5% |
| Gulf of Tonkin | 80,307 km² | 72.1% |
| Inner Sea | 15,003 km² | 72.1% |
| Persian Gulf | 164,222 km² | 69.1% |
The Caspian Sea is left out because it is a lake and stays water in this model.
Other sea levels
Frequently asked questions
How much land appears if sea level drops 50 m?
About 11.8 million km² of seabed becomes land, which is 8% of today's land area (147,036,202 km², lakes excluded). 96.8% of today's sea remains.
Which land bridges open at 50 m?
At this step Doggerland (North Sea), Irish Sea floor, Sundaland (Java Sea) first become dry land on the map.
Is this a forecast of sea level change?
No. It is a simple bathtub model that lowers the sea everywhere by the same amount, from today's coast, using the GEBCO_2026 grid. It does not simulate how the water would drain, how the land would adjust, or any past or future climate.
Data: land and depths from the GEBCO_2026 grid, lakes from Natural Earth. See data sources and licences. The GEBCO Grid should NOT be used for navigation or for any other purpose involving safety at sea.