Rising sea level threat – how concerning is it?

The hot topic of possible sea level rise is the subject of a free public lecture at Waikato University.

The lecture is part of the Geoscience Society of New Zealand annual conference in Hamilton on November 24-27. 

The conference will involve 250 participants – from here and overseas – who will share in the latest research in Geosciences, while enjoying Waikato University’s ‘world class’ facilities.

The Geosciences 2019 Conference Convener, Waikato University’s Professor Peter Kamp, says the main concern about climate change in New Zealand is rising sea levels.

“We live in a temperate maritime climate, meaning that we are influenced by the oceans around us, which will moderate any future increases in air temperature.”

“We will however experience sea-level rise as a result of melt waters from glaciers and ice shelves returning to oceans. This melting will contribute to sea level rise, inundating lowland coastal areas both here and abroad.” 

“Parts of New Zealand will be more impacted than others.”

The lecture on sea-level change will be presented by three experts.

The first is Professor Tim Naish, an ex-Waikato University PhD student and former head of Victoria University’s Antarctic Research Centre, and an international authority on sea-level change and Antarctic glacial history.

The other speakers are Dr Rob Bell from Hamilton’s NIWA office who is an expert in the impact of sea level rise on coastal environments; and Rick Liefting from Waikato Regional Council who is an expert in the area of management of coastal changes.

The Geoscience Society national conference is held in Hamilton every eight years. 

The theme of the conference is “reporting world class research results.” In addition, there are four field trips, one examining evidence for old faults in the Waikato Basin.

 “New exposures formed by earthworks associated with the Waikato Expressway have revealed new information about the occurrence of faults that wasn’t previously known.”

“These faults were last active prior to 350,000 years ago and their nature is of interest to engineering geologists and geoscientists who work on fault patterns in New Zealand.”

Other field trips will be visiting Mt Pirongia, Waitomo Caves, and the King County basin. 

Professor Kamp says Hamilton is a great place to have the Geoscience Society conference, and participants will be enjoying the marvellous campus setting and World-class lecture theatre facilities at the University.

PUBLIC LECTURE: “The Science of Sea-level change, Impacts and Management”. Monday 25th November, 5.15 p.m.-7p.m.  University of Waikato, L Block (Lecture Theatre L01). Parking in No.1 Carpark accessed off Knighton Road. This lecture is a free public event.