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Causes for contemporary regional sea level changes.
Detlef Stammer1, Anny Cazenave, Rui M Ponte
1Institute of Oceanography, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. detlef.stammer@zmaw.de
Annual Review of Marine Science
|July 20, 2012
Summary
Regional sea level changes vary significantly due to ocean dynamics and Earth
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Climate Science
- Geophysics
Background:
- Regional sea level changes differ from global mean trends.
- Variations occur on multiple timescales and can be influenced by ocean circulation, crustal isostatic adjustment, and local factors like subsidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the drivers of regional sea level variations.
- To differentiate between natural and anthropogenic influences on sea level.
- To highlight the need for enhanced climate observing systems.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of dynamic ocean circulation variations.
- Assessment of isostatic adjustment due to ice and water mass changes.
- Consideration of local factors including earthquakes and subsidence.
Main Results:
- Natural climate variability is the primary driver of current regional sea level changes.
- Anthropogenic effects will increasingly influence regional sea level patterns.
- Future sea level patterns will be a combination of climate variability and static sea level changes.
Conclusions:
- Understanding regional sea level requires accounting for both natural variability and anthropogenic impacts.
- Accurate attribution and prediction of sea level changes necessitate a robust and continuous climate observing system.
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