The NZ SeaRise website shows location-specific sea level rise projections to the year 2300, for every 2km of the coast of New Zealand. Project co-leader and GNS Science associate professor Richard Levy said the team had connected vertical land movement data with climate-driven sea level rise to provide locally-relevant sea level projections. The largest increases in sea level will occur along the southeast North Island along the Wairarapa coast. ''In contrast, land is rising near Pikowai, in the Bay of Plenty, and uplift rates may keep pace with climate change-driven sea level rise, causing a small fall in sea level if we follow the most optimistic climate scenario.'' Vertical land movements mean sea level changes might happen 20-30 years sooner than previously expected.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 02, 2022 04:54 UTC