Greenland - New Worst Case Projection Needed

                                                                                                                                                 AIan Joughin/AP

The acceleration of ice loss in Greenland will require scientists to recalculate their forecasts for the timing and impact of climate change driven sea level rise.  Considering that a one centimeter (0.39 inches) rise in sea level would put six million more people in danger of increase flooding, the current melt rate would result in a 16 centimeters (6.3 inches) of sea level increase in global sea levels by 2100.

The recent Greenland losses, the experts suggest, match a more dire sea-level projection outlined by the United Nations' chief climate science body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Under that high-end scenario, Greenland could contribute about 16 centimeters, or around half a foot, to ocean levels by 2100. 

"What that means is that really, the midrange scenario becomes what was previously the upper scenario, and they will have to invent a new upper scenario, because one currently doesn't exist," Shepherd said.

Greenland’s ice sheet is only part of the problem.  It’s smaller than the ice that covers Antarctica.