Rising sea to swamp capital

Parts of Wellington could be inundated by global warminginduced rising sea levels, according to data from a National Geographic documentary.

The data indicates much of Miramar, Lyall Bay, Lower Hutt, Seatoun and both Wellington’s port and airport could be submerged by metres under some scenarios.

Much of the city’s waterfront would be underwater, and Westpac Stadium’s low-laying green would be swimming with the fishes even if mid-range global warming eventuates.

An interactive map released with the Leonardo DiCaprioproduced documentary Before The Flood shows several New Zealand cities under threat if predictions materialise.

The map echoes images released last year by Victoria University, which revealed water lapping at the steps of the Beehive if average temperatures were to rise 2 degrees this century, compared with pre-industrial levels.

Christchurch, Napier and south Dunedin could also be under water, while Timaru, Gisborne, Whangarei, Nelson, Whanganui and Invercargill are likely to feel the effect of rising waters.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change did not include in its sea level rise predictions what a rapid retreat of Antarctica’s ice sheets would mean for sea levels.

Victoria University climate professor Tim Naish said: ‘‘The bottom line is that current sea-level projections may significantly underestimate the Antarctic contribution to future sea levels.

‘‘If we don’t stabilise temperatures at 2 degrees we could commit the planet to 5.6m sea level rises.’’