For many decades, a series of different satellite-based sensors have been used to observe ice loss from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and independently to provide measures of changing sea level height. Recently, blended datasets extracted from such observations have enabled us to determine a long-term record of these changes, and consistent datasets like this are invaluable to improving our understanding of the links between ice sheets and sea levels, and to separate trends from more temporary interannual variations.

In this video, Professor Andrew Shepherd explores how this range of satellite-derived datasets is allowing us to examine more accurately how changes in the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are contributing to global increases in sea level rise.

Featured Educators:

• Professor Andrew Shepherd

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• Cryosat 2

Don’t forget you can download the video, transcript and take any quizzes available with the links on the right.