The role of sea-level rise and the Greenland ice sheet in dangerous climate change: implications for the stabilisation of climate

Lowe, J.A., Gregory, J.M., Ridley, J., Huybrechts, P., Nicholls, R.J. and Collins, M. (2006) The role of sea-level rise and the Greenland ice sheet in dangerous climate change: implications for the stabilisation of climate. In, Schnellnhuber, H.J., Cramer, W., Nakicenovic, N., Wigley, T. and Yohe, G. (eds.) Avoiding dangerous climate change. New York, USA. Cambridge University Press, pp. 29-36.

Abstract

Sea level rise is an important aspect of future climate change because, without upgraded coastal defences, it is likely to lead to significant impacts. Here we report on two aspects of sea-level rise that have implications for the avoidance of dangerous climate change and stabilisation of climate.
If the Greenland ice sheet were to melt it would raise global sea levels by around 7 m. We discuss the likelihood of such an event occurring in the coming centuries. The results suggest that complete or partial deglaciation of Greenland may be triggered for even quite modest stabilisation targets. We also examine the time scales associated with sea-level rise and demonstrate that long after atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations or global temperature have been stabilised coastal impacts may still be increasing.

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Contributors

Author: R.J. Nicholls

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