The Cryosphere and Sea Level Rise

We employ an interdisciplinary approach to understand the interactions between ice and climate. We combine observations from remote sensing platforms and field data with numerical modeling to understand the physical processes controlling the response of the ice sheets to climate change, and to reduce the uncertainties of projections of the future contributions of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets to sea level rise regionally and globally over the coming centuries.

Research Groups
Ice Remote Sensing Group
Faculty
Eric Rignot

Uses satellite remote sensing techniques (imaging radar, laser altimetry, radio echo sounding), airborne geophysical surveys (icebridge), field surveys (radar, GPS, bathymetry, CTD), and numerical modeling

Sea Level and Gravimetry
Faculty
Isabella Velicogna

Employs advanced multi-sensor geophysical techniques, including satellite time-variable gravity (GRACE), to study the mass balance of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets and glaciers worldwide

Faculty & Researchers
Eric Rignot
Professor of Earth System Science
erignot@uci.edu
Isabella Velicogna
Professor of Earth System Science
isabella@uci.edu

News

It’s not just that sea levels are rising. Scientists believe fossil fuel extraction and river engineering are also factors behind coastline disappearance.
Densely populated river deltas are sinking faster than sea levels are rising, according to new research.
The work reveals which human-driven activities are the main drivers.