Measuring Sea Level Change

Measuring Sea Level Change

Overview
 What is Sea Level?

Mean high tide

Mean sea level

Mean low tide

Mean – Arithmetic average

Mean sea level – The average sea level over a large region
 Sea Level Variation
Astronomical Tidal Forces

Earth’s water closest to the moon is acted on more strongly by the moon’s gravity
The solid Earth is pulled harder than the water on the side opposite the moon
The Sun produces similar tidal forces and accounts for about 1/3 of ocean tides
 Sea Level Variation

Depth of Tampa Bay changes by 20 cm between winter and summer

Primary cause is thermal expansion (water expands when it warms)
Mangroves & coastal habitats must be able to handle the changing water line
 Sea Level Variation
El Niño and Multi-Year Changes
Readings at Fort Point, San Francisco Depth Gauge

During El Niño years, sea level along West Coast is higher than in La Niña years
Higher seas caused by reduced trade winds, allows up to 8 inches of sea level rise
 Measuring Sea Level Rise
Traditional Stilling Well
Mechanical device “draws” sea
Tide Gauge Benchmark
level on slowly rolling paper

Bedrock Pulley and

Counterweight
Float

Small openings near bottom of well

designed to “filter out” wave motion

Sea bed

Tides and changes in sea level are measured relative to a permanent local benchmark
 Measuring Sea Level Rise
Modern Tide Gauge Station
Satellite Antenna

Acoustic Sensor
Data Collection
Tide Gauge Benchmark Computers

Calibration Tube

Pressure Instantaneous
Gauge Water Level

Computers enable in-depth analysis Data available instantly Individual waves measured
 Measuring Sea Level Rise
Modern Tide Gauge Station
Measures wind
Housing keeps Acoustic sensor
speed/direction
equipment dry

Solar panels

Satellite antenna
Computer to process
sends data to
and store data
Internet
 Measuring Global Sea Level
• Deep ocean couldn’t
JASON-2 be measured until
satellite GPS about 25 years ago
Altimeter
• Satellites now
Microwave radiometer Range measure elevation
measuring water vapor using altimetry

• Sea level determined

Satellite by comparing
altitude Sea surface measured height and
height
GPS data
Ellipsoid
 Causes of Sea Level Change

Terrestrial water storage,

Extraction of groundwater,
Building reservoirs Subsidence in river delta, Exchange of ocean water
Land movements, with
Tectonic displacements glaciers and ice sheets

Circulation changes,
Seepage into aquifers Storm surges,
Water expands as it warms
 Summary

• Mean Sea Level

• Sea Level Variation
• Coastal Tide Gauge Stations
• Measuring Global Sea Level
• Causes of Sea Level Change