PolyU recently held its inaugural “Top 10 Research & Innovation Stories of the Year” campaign. Selected through public voting and expert evaluation, this initiative spotlights outstanding research driving global progress and societal well-being.
We are proud to share that our member, Prof. Jianli Chen, Chair Professor of Space Geodesy and Earth Sciences, has been honoured in this prestigious selection for his pioneering work in climate resilience.
Published in the renowned journal Nature, Prof. Chen’s study addresses the critical global challenge of climate change. The Greenland ice sheet is currently the primary driver of global sea-level rise; if fully melted, it could raise sea levels by seven meters. To better understand this threat, Prof. Chen’s international team integrated advanced space geodetic techniques, combining satellite positioning data (GNSS) with NASA’s satellite gravity measurements.
By monitoring the vertical displacement of bedrock beneath the ice sheet, the team successfully quantified summer meltwater storage. The study revealed that extreme summer heatwaves caused the bedrock to subside by up to 14 millimeters, providing crucial, unprecedented data on how meltwater behaves before reaching the ocean.
This breakthrough significantly improves the accuracy of regional climate models, offering vital insights to help coastal cities project sea-level rise and build stronger global climate resilience. We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Chen on this well-deserved recognition of his impactful research.
