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high ranges for future sea level rise. Because the range of 



assumptions used to project sea level rise varied from the very 



conservative to the less restrictive, the estimates produced 



here are likely to encompass the true rate of future sea level 



rise . 



This report is organized as follows: 



o Chapter 2 reviews the scientific basis for the 



belief that global warming will occur and cause sea 

 level to rise. 



o Chapter 3 presents the approach, the assumptions, and 

 the models used to estimate sea level rise. 



o Chapter 4 presents the results of our analysis: the 

 low, high, and mid-range sea level rise scenarios. 



o Chapter 5 reviews the research conducted on the impacts 

 of sea level rise and discusses the need for further 

 research on this subject. 



o Chapter 6 presents a review of the research under way 

 to improve estimates of sea level rise, along with 

 options for accelerating the efforts to improve these 

 estimates . 



o Appendix A provides a summary of a larger set of sea level 

 rise scenarios, including "special case" scenarios. 



o Appendix 8 provides technical details of the models and 

 assumptions used to generate the scenarios on thermal 

 expansion . 



o Appendix C provides details on the methods used for 

 estimating snow and ice contributions, including a 

 detailed analysis of the melting estimated under doubled 

 CC>2 in a three-dimensional global climate model. 



