Robust Sea‐Level Projections for Singapore by 2100 and 2150

Abstract Rising sea levels pose a critical challenge for low‐lying countries such as Singapore, highlighting the need for accurate projections to inform adaptation strategies. However, data limitations, climate model uncertainties, and regional deviations complicate these projections. Here, we evaluate relative sea‐level rise (RSLR) projections for Singapore by 2100 and 2150 based on Singapore's Second National Climate Change Study (V2), UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), and new V3 projections. Projections are provided under low (RCP2.6/SSP1‐2.6) and high (RCP8.5/SSP5‐8.5) emissions scenarios at six tide gauges across Singapore. The V3 projections reflect a correction to the erroneous tide‐gauge record at Sembawang, which affected the contribution of vertical land movement (VLM) to the IPCC AR6 projections. The correction shows VLM adds 0.14 m by 2100 and 0.21 m by 2150 to RSLR at Sembawang. By 2100, V3 projections indicate a RSLR of 0.42 m (likely range: 0.26–0.63 m) under low emissions increasing to 0.67 m (0.38–1.07 m) by 2150. Under high emissions, RSLR is 0.75 m (0.58–1.04 m) by 2100, increasing to 1.32 m (0.9–1.95 m) by 2150. We find that ocean sterodynamics is the largest contributor to RSLR (∼40%) although uncertainties related to Antarctic ice sheet contributions are greater. Our findings highlight the need for accurate data especially from historical archives to improve the robustness of VLM and RSLR projections in Singapore and elsewhere.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans
Published
2025-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2024jc021840
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.79

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article

Robust Sea‐Level Projections for Singapore by 2100 and 2150

Trina Ng, Gregory G. Garner, Jennifer Weeks, Matthew D. Palmer et al.
1 citations
Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans
Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
1.79
article

Robust Sea‐Level Projections for Singapore by 2100 and 2150

Trina Ng, Gregory G. Garner, Jennifer Weeks, Matthew D. Palmer, Peter J. Hogarth, Tanghua Li, Benjamin P. Horton, Aurel Moise
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Abstract Rising sea levels pose a critical challenge for low‐lying countries such as Singapore, highlighting the need for accurate projections to inform adaptation strategies. However, data limitations, climate model uncertainties, and regional deviations complicate these projections. Here, we evaluate relative sea‐level rise (RSLR) projections for Singapore by 2100 and 2150 based on Singapore's Second National Climate Change Study (V2), UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), and new V3 projections. Projections are provided under low (RCP2.6/SSP1‐2.6) and high (RCP8.5/SSP5‐8.5) emissions scenarios at six tide gauges across Singapore. The V3 projections reflect a correction to the erroneous tide‐gauge record at Sembawang, which affected the contribution of vertical land movement (VLM) to the IPCC AR6 projections. The correction shows VLM adds 0.14 m by 2100 and 0.21 m by 2150 to RSLR at Sembawang. By 2100, V3 projections indicate a RSLR of 0.42 m (likely range: 0.26–0.63 m) under low emissions increasing to 0.67 m (0.38–1.07 m) by 2150. Under high emissions, RSLR is 0.75 m (0.58–1.04 m) by 2100, increasing to 1.32 m (0.9–1.95 m) by 2150. We find that ocean sterodynamics is the largest contributor to RSLR (∼40%) although uncertainties related to Antarctic ice sheet contributions are greater. Our findings highlight the need for accurate data especially from historical archives to improve the robustness of VLM and RSLR projections in Singapore and elsewhere.

Journal of Geophysical Research OceansVol. 130(5)
Met Office (GB), National Environment Agency (SG), City University of Hong Kong (HK), Nanyang Technological University (SG), National Oceanography Centre (GB), University of Bristol (GB), Earth Observatory of Singapore (SG)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Met Office, Ministry of Education - Singapore, Ministry of Education, India, Earth Observatory of Singapore
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
1.79
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