Waves in the south of Wellington, New Zealand's capital, on 30 June 2021. Xinhua News Agency issued on May 2, 2022
WELLINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand sea level rise, a five-year research project funded by the New Zealand government and composed of 30 scientists, released data on May 2 saying that sea levels in New Zealand are rising faster than expected due to the dual effects of global sea level rise and New Zealand ground subsidence.
The data suggest that by 2100, global sea levels could rise by an average of about 0.6 metres. Due to significant ground subsidence in most parts of New Zealand, sea level rise may exceed 1 metre over the same period.
New Zealand Sea Level Rise aims to monitor climate change, record sea level rise data and analyse its causes, informing the Government's future environmental strategy and town planning. Project leader Tim Nash, a scientist at Victoria University in Wellington, said: "New Zealand's sea level rises by about 3.5 mm a year. At the same time, the ground subsidence value also reached the same magnitude. ”
Another project scientist, Professor Richard Levy, said a 0.3-metre sea-level rise is a red line for many of New Zealand's coasts to withstand flooding. Once this red line is exceeded, "the disaster caused by a century without a storm may become something that happens every year."
The immediate impact of accelerated sea-level rise is that New Zealand's capital, Wellington, and Auckland, the largest city, could be significantly affected as soon as 2040, with many low-lying offshore buildings and roads likely to be submerged, Nash said. At that time, wellington city centre seaside business district, Auckland Yacht Marina and other familiar offshore landmarks will be directly threatened or even have to be abandoned.
Naish believes that from a practical point of view, future urban planning and property development need to take into account the factor of sea level rise. In fact, the New Zealand government has begun to consider a "planned retreat" option, which is to abandon high-risk inshore land.
A woman photographs waves (file photo) on the shores of Wellington, New Zealand's capital, on January 19, 2021. Xinhua
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