A recent study published in the Journal of Climate indicates that sea levels in the Gulf of Mexico are rising much faster in recent years than they have over the longer period. This has important implications for coastal communities because a more quickly rising sea level means more potential damage from hurricanes, more salt intrusion into coastal aquifers, and damage to coastal ecosystems that cannot adapt to the rapid changes. There are several possible causes of the rapid rise, including sea water expansion due to the unusually warm Gulf of Mexico water and changes in the ocean circulation, especially the Loop Current that winds through the Gulf. You can read more in the Washington Post at https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/04/10/sea-level-rise-southern-us/.
