Grapevine

Understanding Antarctica's contribution to sea level rise

Over the next decades to centuries, will melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS)—Earth's largest ice mass—cause global sea level to rise by five meters, two meters or less?

It's a difficult question to answer. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean environment is dynamic and unpredictable. This means that there is uncertainty in our understanding of the behavior of the AIS and what this means for future sea-level rise.

Now scientists from Australia, the United States and Canada, have identified actions that will help reduce uncertainties about the future behavior of the ice sheet and sea-level rise projections.

Their current data, available in the Australian Antarctic Data Centre, will also guide research to reduce the uncertainties faced by policymakers, decision-makers and communities needing to plan and adapt to a changing world.

Sources of uncertainty