Keywords
Climate change, sea levels, global warming,
carbon dioxide, surface heating, greenhouse gases,
fossil fuels
Expertise
In just two generations the concentration of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere has risen dramatically; as a
consequence surface heating on the planet has increase
slightly, by 1 to 2 watts per square metre. The effects of
this additional heating are easily masked by the day-to-
day changes in our weather and other natural processes,
like volcanic emissions and changes in ocean circulation.
However, the so-called ‘climate forcing’ from this increas-
ing level of CO
2
is significant; the average temperature of
the earth’s surface has already increased by 0.5°C and
the rate at which sea levels are rising has increased too.
Research at Liverpool seeks to understand the effects of
this climate change. For example, our work on rising sea
levels with the National Oceanography Centre is
focusing on the increased risk of flooding; the threat of
an extreme storm surge will increase from once in a
thousand years without climate change to an extreme
flood once every 100 or even 10 years with climate
change. The long-term future is becoming increasingly
challenging and difficult, unless we all face up to the
need to adapt to this new environment and alter the way
we live our lives.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Multidisciplinary research with expertise in marine
sciences, climate change, environmental change,
global health and infection, the link between past
human habitats and climate, and the media
representation of climate change
•
Modelling and forecasting changes in sea levels
and flooding risks
•
Advice and consultancy on environmental
protection and adaptation to climate change.
Relevant centres and groups
•
National Oceanography Centre
•
Research Centre in Marine Sciences and Climate
Change.
If we continue to emit all
the carbon locked in
conventional fossil fuels
there will eventually be five
times as much extra surface
heating from carbon dioxide
than we are experiencing
today. This effect would last
for thousands of years.
Environment & Climate Change
57
1.
Drivers of environmental change
APPLICATION AREAS
•
Built environment
•
Civil engineering
•
Energy
•
Food supply
•
Sustainability
•
Transport and infrastructure
