Policy implications of Antarctic ice sheet melting and global sea-level research

In this article, for the Antarctic Science Platform, Richard Levy and Tim Naish discuss the connections between the melting of Antarctic ice-sheets and planning to sea-level rise in Aotearoa.

Sea-level rise is the clearest planet-wide signal of human-induced climate change, and will cause major disruption to countries around the world over the coming century. The melting of Antarctic ice-sheets is a major driver of sea-level rise and an enhanced understanding of this is crucial for the effective anticipation and planning of adaptation measures required to manage the worst of its impacts. New Zealand-led research is making a major contribution to understanding the implications for Antarctic ice sheets under different climate scenarios, and the consequences for rising seas.

Figure 2: Effect of 0.1 metre sea-level rise increments on coastal storm inundation exposure at Mission Bay, Auckland, based on present-day sea-level. Graphics: Sanjay Wadhwa, NIWA; based on Auckland Council Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data. Source: Stephens et al. (2017).