Global warming has resulted in over 20 cm of sea level rise since 1900.  The rate of rise has accelerated over the previous two decades and future projections suggest that there is much more to come.  In this seminar, we will explore what we know about what controls sea level rise over a variety of time and space scales.  In addition, we will examine how sea level rise is expected to impact human and natural systems and how we can adapt to these changes.

Tentative seminar schedule (titles tentative)

January 8:  LuAnne Thompson, Oceanography, An introduction to sea level variability and change: satellite observations of global sea level over the last 25 years

January 15:  Eddie Allison, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs:  Vulnerability to sea level rise in least developed countries

January 22:  Kri Ebi, Global Health and Environmental and Occupational Health, Small Island nation climate vulnerability with focus on health systems

January 29:  Parker MacCready, Oceanography, Tides in Puget sounds and sea level extremes

February 5:  Gregory Johnson:  NOAA/PMEL, The global sea level budget

February 12:  Ian Joughin, APL, Observations of ice sheet change and sea level rise.

February 19: T. J. Fudge, Earth and Space Sciences, Changes in the Antarctic Ice Sheet over centuries to millennium

February 26:  Steven Talke, Portland State University, Sea Level rise in estuaries

March 5:  Harriet Morgan, Climate Impacts Group, Adapting to sea level rise in Washington State

March 12  TBA

See also ATM/ESS/OCN 475 for undergraduate, 3 cr, section.