Summary

• Main Authors: John A. Church (lead, Sea-level Change
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Greenland; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.214.4637; http://www.unep.org/geo/geo_ice/PDF/GEO_C6_C_LowRes.pdf

Sea-level rise is a major impact of global warming. There is clear scientific consensus that sea level is rising partly in response to past emissions of greenhouse gases from human activity. Melting glaciers and ice sheets are responsible for more than a third of the current rate of sea-level rise and the contribution of meltwater to the oceans can be expected to continue and accelerate as more land ice melts. Over the long term the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica have the potential to make the largest contribution to sea-level rise, but they are also the greatest source of uncertainty. Sea level will rise during the 21st century and after and hence adaptation measures will be required during the 21st century and beyond. The rate and magnitude of sealevel rise, particularly beyond the mid 21st century, depends