From polar ice caps to the Mediterranean: sea levels, between uncertainty and urgency!
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After an introduction by Michaël Delafosse, mayor of Montpellier, Gaël Durand, scientific delegate for polar affairs at CNRS-INSU, will give an overview of the current state of polar ice caps and glaciers, the main contributors to sea level rise.
Following his lecture, Gaël Durand will take part in a round table discussion moderated by Mathieu Vidard, with Frédéric Bouchette, professor at the University of Montpellier and specialist in coastal dynamics, two representatives from the Occitanie Region and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, and Nicolas Clarin, project manager for coastal development and studies of coastal hydro-morpho-dynamic processes at CréOcean.
The faster-than-expected evolution of the polar ice caps has surprised the scientific community and led to a thorough review of certain fundamentals of glaciology, particularly the mechanisms of instability specific to ice caps.
However, uncertainty should not be confused with ignorance, nor should it be used as an excuse for inaction: even if current knowledge remains imperfect, it is sufficient to warn of major risks. It calls for courageous and urgent decisions, both in terms of adaptation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Presented as part of the 29th edition of the Réunions des Sciences de la Terre(Earth Science Meetings). Organized by the Société Géologique de France, the Laboratoire Géosciences Montpellier, and the Fédération BioGée. This evening event is part of a shared desire for dialogue between science and society, to better understand the climate challenges ahead and take concrete action at the regional level.
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