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New projections of 'uneven' global sea-level rise

A new study projects that global sea-level rise will not be uniform, with certain regions experiencing higher rates of rise. The team used sophisticated computer modeling to show how ice loss from glaciers and ice sheets will impact regional sea levels, particularly in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean.

SourceBritish Antarctic Survey·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 18, 2013

AGU Journal Highlights -- Feb. 11, 2013

Recent AGU journal publications explore the global climatology of explosive cyclones and their impact on U.S. biomes under climate change. A study found that extreme precipitation patterns decrease vegetative productivity by 20% in some regions, while others show neutral or negative effects.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 11, 2013

Melting glaciers raise sea level

A University of Innsbruck team assessed glacier contribution to sea level rise from 1902 to 2009, finding that melting glaciers caused about 11 cm of sea level increase. Glaciers' melt rates were surprisingly constant over time, with brief warm episodes leading to Arctic glacier retreat.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalThe Cryosphere·DateNov 14, 2012

GSA session to address Hurricane Sandy

The Geological Society of America has organized a break-out discussion panel to address the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy on rapid sea-level rise and its impacts. Geoscience experts will discuss the changes caused by the storm to the U.S. East Coast, tying into scheduled presentations on the topic.

Ice sheet retreat controlled by the landscape

Researchers at Durham University found that channel width plays a crucial role in controlling ice stability and rate of mass loss from ice sheets and glaciers. The study's simulation of past ice-sheet retreat and collapse over a ten thousand year period in Antarctica provides new light on what makes ice stable or unstable.

SourceDurham University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateOct 16, 2012

Sea-level study shows signs of things to come

A new study predicts that sea levels will continue to rise for thousands of years due to irreversible warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The research suggests that the Earth's ice sheets and oceans will contribute significantly to this rise, with a possible increase of up to 6.8 meters in the next thousand years.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateOct 1, 2012

Trigger for past rapid sea level rise discovered

Researchers at the University of Bristol used climate and ice sheet models to identify the cause of rapid sea level rise in the past. They found that a process called 'saddle-collapse' led to two major events, including the 14,600-year-old Meltwater pulse 1a event, which resulted in a 9m sea level rise.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature·DateJul 11, 2012

Finding fingerprints in sea level rise

Harvard scientists have developed a method to identify 'sea level fingerprints,' patterns of variation in sea level changes that can indicate the source of water contributing to rising sea levels. Using a Kalman smoother, researchers can determine where glacial melting is occurring and estimate its contribution to global sea level rise.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 18, 2012

Geophysicists employ novel method to identify sources of global sea level rise

Researchers developed a novel method to distinguish sea-level fingerprints from various processes, allowing for more accurate estimation of individual ice sheets' contributions to rising global sea levels. The new approach may help estimate the current rate of sea level rise and rates of ice sheet melting simultaneously.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 24, 2012

Millions of Americans at risk of flooding as sea levels rise

New research suggests nearly four million Americans, covering an area larger than Maryland, are at risk of severe flooding due to rising sea levels. The US Government's current flood zones may not be stable with predicted sea level rise, and many locations will experience high flooding every decade or more often.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 14, 2012

Sea level rise to alter economics of California beaches

A study by Duke University researchers predicts that sea level rise will change the economic landscape of Southern California beaches, with smaller beaches facing significant losses while larger ones may benefit. The study suggests that nourishment projects could help offset these losses, but at great cost.

SourceDuke University·JournalClimatic Change·DateFeb 28, 2012

Bleak future for Bay area tidal marshes?

A new study projects a bleak future for San Francisco Bay's tidal marshes under high-end sea-level rise scenarios, with up to 93% of the bay's tidal marshes potentially lost. However, the study also highlights the importance of restoration efforts and sediment management in preserving these vital ecosystems.

SourcePoint Blue Conservation Science·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 17, 2011

AGU journal highlights -- Jan. 13, 2011

Scientists have identified a cluster of deep low-frequency earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault, influenced by a Chilean earthquake. Additionally, satellite imagery reveals evidence of buried water ice near the Martian equator, contradicting previous research that Mars' current climate is inhospitable to equatorial water ice.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 13, 2011