To the NASA : ” Using satellite measurements (…), the researchers measured ice loss in all of Earth’s land ice between 2003 and 2010, with particular emphasis on glaciers and ice caps outside of Greenland and Antarctica. ”
” The total global ice mass lost from Greenland, Antarctica and Earth’s glaciers and ice caps during the study period was about 4.3 trillion tons , adding about 12 millimeters to global sea level. “
This is another proof of what we have been knowing for years : unless we start to act on the matter, we are going to end up in high water… and in serious trouble.
Pacific Islands with a “low” profile, Chinese coast, United States West and East coast and other densely populated areas…
Population flux are going to be huge. The problems of refugees (massive influx of populations in already inhabited areas, local tensions, scarcity of local resources…) is well known in conflicting regions.
But what about climate refugees in industrialised countries?
I do not think we will witness tent cities or endless queues of refugees waiting for water or food, but the cultural shock might be as important as for the 9/11: “now we’re vulnerable”…
I think leaders have already heard about rising sea level but I am not sure they fully understand what it might mean (massive infrastructure needed to protect cities from floods, prospective analysis of internal migrations towards inland regions…)
“Population flux are going to be huge” Indeed ! Ass I noted back to 2008, the UNHCR believes there might be up to a billion climate refugees in 2050.
Regarding rising sea levels, please check out the series of articles I wrote on the very matter.
This will have huge implications on geopolitics. I am sure this would make a great article for your blog 🙂