Study corrects IPCC: Sea levels rising faster as oceans warm 50% quicker

by William Atkins

Friday, 20 June 2008

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The IPCC report was found to include only data from the expansion of ocean waters from it being heated. Other studies showed the rate of sea levels rising around the world much faster than what determined in the IPCC study.

Geckler, one of the co-authors of the study, stated, "The numbers didn't add up. When previous investigators tried to add up all the estimated contributions to sea level rise--thermal expansion, melting glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets, along with changes in terrestrial storage--they did not match with the independently estimated total sea level rise.” [AFP: “Oceans warm more quickly than suspected: study”]

Domingues concludes: “Our results are important for the climate modelling community because they boost confidence in the climate models used for projections of global sea-level rise resulting from the accumulation of heat in the oceans. These projections will, in turn, assist in planning to minimise the impacts and in developing adaptation strategies.” [CSIRO]

The researchers state that their conclusions agree with other recent scientific studies involving upper-ocean thermal expansion contributions to the rising of sea levels.

They conclude that additional detailed regional and global models, observations, and studies need to be performed so a better understanding can be found with regards to the implications of climate change, global warming, and sea-level rise.

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