NOTE: This seminar is hosted jointly with the Bureau of Economic Geology and will be held at 3pm. The seminar will be followed by a reception in the first floor UTIG lobby at 4pm.
Contact: marcy@ig.utexas.edu.
Speaker: Sophie Nowicki, Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, University at Buffalo
Host: Ginny Catania
Title: Rising seas: a known future, yet deeply uncertain…
Abstract: Antarctica and Greenland—Earth’s two largest remaining ice sheets—have been undergoing complex changes in mass since the first satellite observations and are major contributors to current sea level rise. While it is certain that these ice sheets will continue to lose mass, how they will evolve in response to ongoing and future climate change remains one of the most uncertain aspects of global sea level projections over human timescales and beyond.
This uncertainty has driven significant advances in interdisciplinary research. Ice sheet projections are no longer just a problem for glaciologists; understanding how the atmosphere and ocean will change in a warming world is now equally essential. This presentation will highlight recent progress in modeling and projections of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, underscoring the value of international collaboration. It will also explore the challenges facing community modeling and observational efforts, while emphasizing the insights gained through these intercomparison projects—and the opportunities they offer for the future.