Ice-Sheet and Sea-Level Changes

Future sea-level rise is an important issue related to the continuing buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, with the potential to raise sea level ∼70 meters if completely melted, dominate uncertainties in projected sea-level change. Freshwater...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science
Main Authors: Alley, Richard B., Clark, Peter U., Huybrechts, Philippe, Joughin, Ian
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2005
Subjects:
Antarctic
Greenland
Antarc*
Ice Sheet
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1114613
https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1114613
Description
Summary:Future sea-level rise is an important issue related to the continuing buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, with the potential to raise sea level ∼70 meters if completely melted, dominate uncertainties in projected sea-level change. Freshwater fluxes from these ice sheets also may affect oceanic circulation, contributing to climate change. Observational and modeling advances have reduced many uncertainties related to ice-sheet behavior, but recently detected, rapid ice-marginal changes contributing to sea-level rise may indicate greater ice-sheet sensitivity to warming than previously considered.

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