When it comes to avoiding dangerous rises in sea level, every little bit of global warming we can avoid will make a difference.
In Paris in December 2015, world leaders agreed to try to limit warming to 2 掳C above pre-industrial levels, and if possible keep it within 1.5 掳C.
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While a 2 掳C limit would be easier politically, it turns out that sticking to 1.5 掳C makes quite a difference when it comes to sea level rise.
of Tufts University in Massachusetts and his colleagues simulated sea level rise under different amounts of warming. They found that stabilising temperatures at 1.5掳C would lead to seas rising less, and more slowly, than allowing temperatures to reach 2掳C. By 2150 鈥� just over a century from now 鈥� sea levels would be as much as 17cm lower for a temperature rise of 1.5掳C, compared to 2掳C. That means fewer coastal communities destroyed.
Even if we 鈥渙vershoot鈥� and reach 2掳C, there鈥檚 still an opportunity to minimise the impact. Bringing temperatures back down to 1.5掳C would mean 12cm less sea level rise than if we stayed at 2掳C.
That鈥檚 in line with a 2016 study by of Climate Analytics in Germany. He also found that limiting warming to 1.5掳C led to significantly less sea level rise.
鈥淪ea level rise will continue for many centuries, but it will happen more slowly if we limit warming,鈥� says Schleussner.
Environmental Research Letters
