Marine Science Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2019
Keywords
coastal sea level, sea-level trends, coastal ocean modeling, coastal impacts, coastal adaptation, observational gaps, integrated observing system
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00437
Abstract
A major challenge for managing impacts and implementing effective mitigation measures and adaptation strategies for coastal zones affected by future sea level (SL) rise is our limited capacity to predict SL change at the coast on relevant spatial and temporal scales. Predicting coastal SL requires the ability to monitor and simulate a multitude of physical processes affecting SL, from local effects of wind waves and river runoff to remote influences of the large-scale ocean circulation on the coast. Here we assess our current understanding of the causes of coastal SL variability on monthly to multi-decadal timescales, including geodetic, oceanographic and atmospheric aspects of the problem, and review available observing systems informing on coastal SL. We also review the ability of existing models and data assimilation systems to estimate coastal SL variations and of atmosphere-ocean global coupled models and related regional downscaling efforts to project future SL changes. We discuss (1) observational gaps and uncertainties, and priorities for the development of an optimal and integrated coastal SL observing system, (2) strategies for advancing model capabilities in forecasting short-term processes and projecting long-term changes affecting coastal SL, and (3) possible future developments of sea level services enabling better connection of scientists and user communities and facilitating assessment and decision making for adaptation to future coastal SL change.
Rights Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Frontiers in Marine Science, v. 6, art. 437
Scholar Commons Citation
Ponte, Rui M.; Carson, Mark; Cirano, Mauro; Domingues, Catia M.; Jevrejeva, Svetlana; Marcos, Marta; Mitchum, Gary; van de Wal, de Wal,; Woodworth, Philip L.; Ablain, Michaël; Ardhuin, Fabrice; Ballu, Valérie; Becker, Mélanie; Benveniste, Jérôme; Birol, Florence; Bradshaw, Elizabeth; Cazenave, Anny; De Mey-Frémaux, Mey-Frémaux, P.; Durand, Fabien; Ezer, Tal; Fu, Lee-Lueng; Fukumori, Ichiro; Gordon, Kathy; Gravelle, Médéric; Griffies, Stephen M.; Han, Weiqing; Hibbert, Angela; Hughes, Chris W.; Idier, Déborah; Kourafalou, Villy H.; Little, Christopher M.; Matthews, Andrew; Melet, Angélique; Merrifield, Mark; Meyssignac, Benoit; Minobe, Shoshiro; Penduff, Thierry; Picot, Nicolas; Piecuch, Christopher; Ray, Richard D.; Rickards, Lesley; Santamaría-Gómez, Alvaro; Stammer, Detlef; Staneva, Joanna; Testut, Laurent; Thompson, Keith; Thompson, Philip; Vignudelli, Stefano; Williams, Joanne; Williams, Simon D.; Wöppelmann, Guy; Zanna, Laure; and Zhang, Xuebin, "Towards Comprehensive Observing and Modeling Systems for Monitoring and Predicting Regional to Coastal Sea Level" (2019). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 2066.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2066
