‘Brighter future’ predicted by global climate change scientists

Experts led by Sheffield University say that advances in simulations are creating a more accurate picture of the future – and the global sea-level rise might only be half what has been reported in major studies in the past few years.

Scientists from 12 specialist centres across the world have, for the first time, collectively studied advances in both observations and simulations of ice-sheet changes.

The team of experts confirmed recent results showing a “brighter future” in relation to the contribution to global sea-level rise from the Antarctic ice sheet, with contributions being only half of what has previously been reported.

However, their research has also ratified a major loss of mass from the Greenland ice sheet, thought to be double the Antarctic contribution.

Professor Edward Hanna, from Sheffield University’s geography department, said: “There are satellites with several different kinds of instruments observing ice-sheet mass balance and computer models simulating the effects of ongoing climate change on ice sheets according to our best theoretical understanding.

“Here we report on recent advances in both types of technologies, presenting the first full summary combining advances in observations and models.”

The professor, lead author of the paper, added: “We believe the contribution to global sea-level rise from the Antarctic ice sheet might be only half that reported in some previous major studies just a year or two ago.”