New Study Shows Sea Levels Could Rise Twice as Much as Originally Predicted

Sea levels could rise twice what was previously anticipated during the 21st century, this report notes, citing findings of a study led by Lab co-director Robert Kopp. New projections for sea levels city-by-city around the world could be far more dire than originally predicted.

By Keshia Hannam

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Evolving Understanding of Antarctic Ice-Sheet Physics and Ambiguity in Probabilistic Sea-Level Projections

Kopp, R. E., DeConto, R. M., Bader, D. A., Hay, C.C., Horton, R. M., Kulp, S., Oppenheimer, M., Pollard, D., & Strauss, B.H. (2017). Evolving Understanding of Antarctic Ice-Sheet Physics and Ambiguity in Probabilistic Sea-Level Projections, Earth’s Future, 5. http://doi.org/10.1002/2017EF000663

This study links a framework for global and local sea-level rise projections with simulations of two major mechanisms by which climate change can affect the vast Antarctic ice sheet. It shows that future sea level rise may be more than previously thought, but just how much won’t become evident until after mid-century.

Published December 13, 2017

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