Vital GEO Graphics

The rate at which polar ice sheets are contributing to sea level rise is faster than previously predicted: some experts say a full collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is conceivable this century. Were this to happen, the sea level would rise by about 6 meters.

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Global glacier mass – annual variability and cumulative values

100 Annual variability in km 3 /year

0

–100

–200

–300

–400

–500

Source: adapted from Dyurgerov and Meier 2005

1960

1980

1995

2005

1965

1975

2000

1970

1985

1990

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The potential impact of a 5-metre sea level rise in Florida (left) and Southeast Asia (right )

Note: The black lines show the current coast lines. The reconstruction shows that with a 5-metre sea level rise the coastlines would recede drastically, and cities such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jacksonville, Miami, New Orleans and Rangoon would disappear from the land map.

Credit: W. Haxby/Lamont- Doherty Earth Observatory

15 CL IMAT E CHANGE