In the following, an overview over recent sea level rise research is given as well as projections for future sea level rise in different global warming scenarios and probable consequences for regions affected.
Country leaders from all around the world came to Madrid in December 2019 for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to agree on a blueprint for limiting climate change. Contingent on the development of global warming global sea level will rise either less than one meter in a realistic best-case scenario or up to two meters in a high greenhouse gas future scenario by the end of the century. In the Paris Agreement the United Nations target a limitation of global surface temperature of under 2 degree Celsius (°C) or preferable an optimum of 1.5 °C relative to pre-industrial temperature among other things because sea level rise should be limited.
Table of Contents
1. Recent development of global sea level rise
Objectives and Topics
This document provides an analytical overview of recent research regarding global sea level rise, examining the primary contributors to ice mass loss and evaluating future projections based on different climate change scenarios to underscore the urgent need for informed policy and adaptation measures.
- Analysis of key contributors to global sea level rise, including the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets.
- Evaluation of RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios and their projected impacts by 2100.
- Assessment of the socioeconomic consequences for coastal populations and infrastructure.
- Examination of the vulnerability of delta regions and island communities to environmental changes.
- Discussion on the necessity of global cooperation to meet the 1.5 °C temperature target.
Excerpt from the Book
Recent development of global sea level rise
Country leaders from all around the world came to Madrid in December 2019 for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to agree on a blueprint for limiting climate change. Contingent on the development of global warming global sea level will rise either less than one meter in a realistic best-case scenario or up to two meters in a high greenhouse gas future scenario by the end of the century. In the Paris Agreement the United Nations target a limitation of global surface temperature of under 2 degree Celsius (°C) or preferable an optimum of 1.5 °C relative to pre-industrial temperature among other things because sea level rise should be limited. In the following, an overview over recent sea level rise research is given as well as projections for future sea level rise in different global warming scenarios and probable consequences for regions affected.
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate states that different observation methods show a rise and acceleration of the global mean sea level from 1.4 mm per year in the period 1901-1990 to 3.6 mm per year in the period 2006-2015 (2019: 323). The IPCC defines global mean sea level rise as “an increase in the volume of ocean water caused by warmer water having a lower density, and by the increase in mass caused by loss of land ice or a net loss in terrestrial water reservoirs” (IPCC, 2019: 330).
Summary of Chapters
1. Recent development of global sea level rise: This chapter introduces the current state of sea level research, detailing the acceleration of ice mass loss in Greenland and Antarctica and summarizing the projected environmental and socioeconomic consequences of global warming scenarios.
Keywords
Sea level rise, Global warming, Climate change, IPCC, Greenland Ice Sheet, Antarctic Ice Sheet, RCP2.6, RCP8.5, Coastal flooding, Sustainability, Greenhouse gas emissions, Socioeconomic impact, Paris Agreement, Infrastructure vulnerability, Cryosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
The publication centers on the current scientific understanding of global sea level rise, its primary causes, and the potential implications for the future of global coastal regions.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed in the text?
The text covers climate science, glaciology, environmental policy, economic risk management, and the social impact of displacement caused by coastal inundation.
What is the primary goal of this research?
The primary goal is to inform policymakers and society about the projected impacts of rising sea levels and the critical importance of adhering to the Paris Agreement targets to avoid severe outcomes.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The work employs a review and synthesis of data provided by the IPCC and various climate modeling studies, including CMIP5 simulations and reconstructed historical data from the Pliocene and last interglacial periods.
What subjects are covered in the main body?
The body text examines contributors to sea level rise (such as ice sheets and thermal expansion), compares different climate scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5), and analyzes the resulting threats to infrastructure, densely populated coastal regions, and deltas.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include sea level rise, cryosphere, RCP scenarios, coastal vulnerability, and climate change mitigation.
How does the Antarctic Ice Sheet specifically contribute to the uncertainty of future projections?
Uncertainties arise because different regions within Antarctica exhibit varying levels of exploration and understanding regarding glacier movement and melt rates, which complicates precise future predictions.
What economic comparison does the text make regarding future flooding in California?
The text compares the potential economic costs of future flooding in California to major disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami to illustrate the severity of the threat.
What is the significance of the 1.5 °C target mentioned?
The 1.5 °C target is critical as a benchmark for climate policy, where staying within this threshold is deemed essential to avoid the most catastrophic environmental consequences of global warming.
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- Christina Wulf (Autor:in), 2020, Recent development of global sea level rise. A short overview, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/957999
