Marine Science Faculty Publications

Benjamin D. Hamlington, California Institute of Technology
Alex S. Gardner, California Institute of Technology
Erik Ivins, California Institute of Technology
Jan T. Lenaerts, University of Colorado Boulder
J. T. Reager, California Institute of Technology
David S. Trossman, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences
Edward D. Zaron, Portland State University
Surendra Adhikari, California Institute of Technology
Anthony Arendt, University of Washington
Andy Aschwanden, Geophysical Institute
Brian D. Beckley, KBR Inc., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Houston, TX
David P. Bekaert, California Institute of Technology
Geoffrey Blewitt, University of Nevada
Lambert Caron, California Institute of Technology
Don P. Chambers, University of South FloridaFollow
Hrishikesh A. Chandanpurkar, California Institute of Technology
Knut Christianson, University of Washington
Beata Csatho, University of Buffalo
Richard I. Cullather, University of Maryland
Robert M. DeConto, University of Massachusetts Amherst
John T. Fasullo, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
Thomas Frederikse, California Institute of Technology
Jeffrey T. Freymueller, Michigan State University
Daniel M. Gilford, Institute of Earth
Manuela Girotto, University of California
William C. Hammond, University of Nevada
Regine Hock, Geophysical Institute
Nicholas Holschuh, University of Washington
Robert E. Kopp, University of California
Felix Landerer, California Institute of Technology
Eric Larour, California Institute of Technology
Dimitris Menemenlis, California Institute of Technology
Mark Merrifield, University of California
Jerry X. Mitrovica, Harvard University
R. Steven Nerem, University of Colorado Boulder
Isabel J. Nias, University of Maryland
Veronica Nieves, Institute of Marine Sciences
Sophie Nowicki, University of Colorado Boulder
Kishore Pangaluru, University of California
Christopher G. Piecuch, Physical Oceanography Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
Richard D. Ray, University of Colorado Boulder
David R. Rounce, Geophysical Institute
Nicole-Jeanne Schlegel, California Institute of Technology
Hélène Seroussi, California Institute of Technology
Manoochehr Shirzaei, Arizona State University
William V. Sweet, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, NOAA, Silver Spring, MD
Isabella Velicogna, Institute of Marine Sciences
Nadya Vinogradova, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
Thomas Wahl, University of Central Florida
David N. Wiese, California Institute of Technology
Michael J. Willis, University of Colorado Boulder

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2020

Keywords

sea level, satellite observations, remote sensing

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1029/2019RG000672

Abstract

Global sea level provides an important indicator of the state of the warming climate, but changes in regional sea level are most relevant for coastal communities around the world. With improvements to the sea-level observing system, the knowledge of regional sea-level change has advanced dramatically in recent years. Satellite measurements coupled with in situ observations have allowed for comprehensive study and improved understanding of the diverse set of drivers that lead to variations in sea level in space and time. Despite the advances, gaps in the understanding of contemporary sea-level change remain and inhibit the ability to predict how the relevant processes may lead to future change. These gaps arise in part due to the complexity of the linkages between the drivers of sea-level change. Here we review the individual processes which lead to sea-level change and then describe how they combine and vary regionally. The intent of the paper is to provide an overview of the current state of understanding of the processes that cause regional sea-level change and to identify and discuss limitations and uncertainty in our understanding of these processes. Areas where the lack of understanding or gaps in knowledge inhibit the ability to provide the needed information for comprehensive planning efforts are of particular focus. Finally, a goal of this paper is to highlight the role of the expanded sea-level observation network—particularly as related to satellite observations—in the improved scientific understanding of the contributors to regional sea-level change.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Reviews of Geophysics, v. 58, issue 3, art. e2019RG000672

©American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Download

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

Share

COinS