Sea Level Rise 1
Places that are most vulnerable to sea level rise are experiencing [subsidence; uplift].
subsidence
Besides long-term sea level rise, short-term variations can cause temporary changes in sea level. Name one natural event that can lead to short-term sea level fluctuations.
Possible answers: tides, storm surges
This type of sea ice survives through multiple summers, becoming thicker and more resilient to melting. Choices: A. aged ice, B. multi-year ice, C. re-frozen ice, D. first-year ice
B. multi-year Ice
These large ice masses cover Greenland and Antarctica and hold enough frozen water to significantly raise sea levels if melted.
Ice sheets
Washington DC was not located under the ice during the last glacial period, but a few hundred miles south of the ice margin. So, you can infer that DC is currently experiencing [uplift; subsidence], which is [increasing; decreasing] the local effects of sea level rise.
subsidence; increasing
Several factors contribute to uneven sea level rise across the globe. Name two geophysical or oceanic processes that cause some areas to experience more or less sea level rise than others.
Possible answers: Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA); Gravitational Effects; Tectonic Movement; Ocean Currents and Wind Patterns; Changes in Atmospheric Pressure; Tides; Storm Surges; etc.
True or False. Melting sea ice contributes to sea level rise.
False, the density of sea ice is only 90% as dense as the water. the melting sea ice only fills in the displaced volume held by the sea ice.
Unlike sea ice, _____ are large floating ice masses that originate from glaciers or ice sheets and are made of freshwater.
Icebergs/Ice Shelves
What is the difference between absolute sea level and relative sea level?
Absolute: refers to the height of the ocean
surface relative to a fixed, unmoving reference point
(e.g. the center of the Earth )
Relative: both absolute rise AND the movement of the land (uplifting or sinking)
By 2100, what is the projected sea level rise for Olympia, WA under the high-emissions RCP 8.5 scenario? Provide both the 50% likelihood estimate. (*REQUIRES IMAGE)
50% likelihood: 2.3 feet
Arctic and Antarctic sea ice have different seasonal patterns. This region has more multi-year ice due to its enclosed ocean, while the other region sees its ice drift into warmer waters.
Arctic
Suppose the sum of melting and calving rates on an ice sheet is higher than the rate of snowfall accumulation. Is this ice sheet in positive, neutral, or negative mass balance?
negative
The rate of global sea level rise is currently [constant; increasing; decreasing]. Which one of these contributes the least to sea level rise? [thermal expansion of seawater; melting of glaciers and ice sheets; changes in land water storage].
increasing; changes in land water storage
Olympia and Long Beach, WA, experience different rates of sea level rise. One city is experiencing uplifting while the other is subsiding. Which city is experiencing uplift? (*REQUIRES IMAGE)
Long Beach: Rising (uplift)
Name one way in which the loss of sea ice is affecting Arctic food security for Indigenous communities.
Possible answers: 1. disrupting traditional hunting practices, 2. disruption of species migration patterns, 3. lowering traditional species population, etc.
Which is currently contributing more to sea level rise: mountain glaciers or the Antarctic Ice Sheet?
Mountain glaciers, because they are smaller and exist at warmer temperatures, making them more sensitive to even small temperature increases.
If Greenland's ice sheet collapses, New York's sea level rise will be [more than; less than; the same as] if West Antarctica's ice sheet collapses. This is because of [gravitational changes; glacial isostatic adjustment; changes in ocean circulation].
less than; gravitational changes. Why?
Ice sheets attract water because of their gravitational pull! As their mass decreases, they have less gravitational pull. This makes water
move away. The local sea level goes down. Higher than average rise on the other side of the Earth.
Name two adaptation strategies used by communities to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels.
1. Managed Retreat -- moving infrastructure and communities inland (e.g. The Quinault Tribe relocating to higher ground)
2. Seawalls and Barriers -- constructing physical barriers to prevent flooding (e.g. The Netherlands' Delta Works).
What important climate factor changes when sea ice melts? What is the name of this effect?
Albedo; Ice-albedo Feedback
Which ice sheet loses a substantial amount of mass from surface melt?
Greenland Ice Sheet