Kiwis can now see how sea-level rise will affect them

Kiwis can now see how sea-level rise will affect them - thanks to maps developed by experts part of NZ SeaRise.

Researcher and NZ SeaRise Programme Co-leader Tim Naish says the revelation came as "quite a big shock" for those who’re part of the NZ SeaRise programme.

The maps - developed for communities and planners - show how much and how fast the sea level will rise along their stretch of coast. The entire coastline has been mapped down to a 2km spacing. It allows people to see how their home could be affected, enabling them to assess risk from erosion and floods.

Local and international experts from Victoria University of Wellington, Otago University, GNS Science, NIWA and the Antarctic Science Platform are part of the five-year research programme NZ SeaRise.

Read more on 1NEWS here.

New sea-level data underlines need for action - Climate Minister James Shaw

Climate Change Minister James Shaw says the release of new sea level rise data underlines the importance of the work the Government is doing to build a low emission, climate resilient future for Aotearoa.

“Data from the NZ SeaRise programme confirms why this Government is right to prioritise action to cut emissions and prepare communities for unavoidable climate impacts,” says James Shaw.

The NZ SeaRise: Te Tai Pari O Aotearoa programme has released data today showing the projected impact of sea level rise around the coast of Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Sea level rise has been a known consequence of climate change for many decades. What this data helpfully does is update the evidence we have for what sea level rise will mean for us in Aotearoa.

“While the findings are sobering, the data shows why we must continue to build on the progress this Government has made over the last four years to build a climate-friendly, prosperous future for Aotearoa – ending offshore fossil fuel exploration, upgrading schools, hospitals and businesses to run on clean energy, and making it easier for families to purchase low-emission vehicles.

“Later this month we will publish New Zealand’s first ever plan to cut emissions in every part of the country. Collectively, the actions that will make up the Emissions Reduction Plan will meet the climate targets this Government has set. Achieving these targets will improve our towns and cities and help to create climate friendly places for us all to live and work.

“While cutting emissions is the best possible step we can take to limit the severity with which we feel the impacts of climate change, we know we must also prepare for the effects we cannot avoid. Right now our Government is asking for feedback on New Zealand’s first ever National Adaptation Plan. This plan will be a step change in the way we plan and prepare for the impact of climate change.

“The new sea level rise data provides further evidence of the challenge we have ahead of us. But the underlying question it asks is whether we can address the challenge in a way that benefits everyone. The answer for this Government is clear: we are committed to taking climate action that will deliver new jobs and opportunities for Kiwi businesses, lower household energy bills, a more sustainable agriculture sector, less air pollution, warmer, drier homes, exciting new technologies, the protection of native species and eco-systems, cost savings for businesses, and overall resilience,” says James Shaw.

Where, or where not, to build?

A study including research by Judy Lawrence reminds us the time to be making long-term plans for coastal property is now:

We have to be careful we don't do temporary works that actually raise expectations of further protection in the future, because this will create very, very expensive properties by the sea which really won't be sustainable over the long term. So, it is a conundrum.

Read more here.

Sea-level rise maps as public communication

How successful are sea-level rise maps in conveying information to the public? NZ SeaRise is lucky to be hosting a group of students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, USA who are working on a answering that question. In a normal year (i.e. non-COVID-19) they would travel to NZ to conduct their studies but this year they are having to do it remotely.

The students have put together a survey regarding public perception of sea-level rise in New Zealand and are particularly interested in how people use (or not) sea level slider maps. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and asks participants to test out one of two online maps (Waikato and Wellington)

Do the survey here.

What lies beneath Dunedin: Next phase of drilling begins

FRIDAY, 17 MAY 2019, 10:33 AM
PRESS RELEASE: OTAGO REGIONAL COUNCIL AND GNS SCIENCE

SOUTH DUNEDIN

The next stage of work is part of the NZ Sea Rise Programme to better understand the impacts of sea level rise.

The Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) “What Lies Beneath Dunedin” project is about to move from shallow groundwater data collection to core-sampling and deep groundwater monitoring.

The programme is being undertaken in collaboration with GNS Science via the NZ Sea Rise project, and with in-kind support from the Dunedin City Council (DCC) and the University of Otago. The project is also supported by Oceana Gold.

The deep drilling project will provide more information about what types of sediment lie beneath coastal Dunedin, and how these might interact with rising sea-levels.

GNS Science is a key research partner in the NZ Sea Rise project led by Victoria University of Wellington with support from NIWA. This project is applying global sea-level rise projections to New Zealand coasts to model potential impacts on coastal areas and groundwater systems. The Dunedin groundwater case study is one of many around New Zealand.

ORC has been monitoring shallow groundwater levels in parts of South Dunedin for nearly a decade and has worked with other groups recently to increase this monitoring through the installation of eight piezometers around South Dunedin.

ORC Natural Hazards Analyst Dr Sharon Hornblow said the next step would be to examine how deeper sediment and aquifers influence shallow groundwater.

“Now we need to look at what types of sediment and rock make up the layers deeper down, and how those may be influencing groundwater levels at the surface—for example, whether water infiltrating in the hill suburbs is welling up on the flat, or whether the shallow groundwater is behaving as a separate system.”

The deep drilling phase of work will start on 20 May and it will take up to three weeks to complete the bores at seven different sites around the coastal parts of Dunedin CBD and South Dunedin. ORC and GNS Science will then work with the University of Otago to gather geological information from the sediment cores in support of the NZ Sea Rise programme.

Senior Disaster Risk Reduction Scientist Phil Glassey, of GNS Science, said the aim was to better characterise the shape of the South Dunedin basin and the sediments within it.

“Currently there are only a few deep drill holes in South Dunedin and these new holes will be drilled to bedrock which we estimate could be at a depth of 70m or more in places.”

Climate change is one of ORC’s four key priorities. Because parts of South Dunedin and Harbourside are considered vulnerable to sea-level rise due to climate change, ORC is conducting this study—in collaboration with GNS Science and other parties involved in the NZ Sea Rise project—as part of broader research on water cycle interactions in the area.

Dr Hornblow said accurate modelling of the contribution of groundwater to flooding risk in Dunedin City required an understanding of deep groundwater characteristics.

“This project allows for an updated geological and groundwater model to be generated, which will inform us about how projected sea-level rise may impact on groundwater levels and flooding hazards. It also allows us to provide the Dunedin City Council with information which will help them future-proof their drainage infrastructure.”

Groundwater measuring instruments will be installed in the drill-holes and the data collected by the ORC.