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External Data Spec

Time Series of Mean Sea Level Trends over Global Ocean

External Data Spec Published 05 Nov 2019
1 min read
The sea level ocean monitoring indicator is derived from the DUACS delayed-time (DT-2018 version) altimeter gridded maps of sea level anomalies based on a stable number of altimeters (two) in the satellite constellation. These products are distributed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and are also available in the CMEMS catalogue (SEALEVEL_GLO_PHY_CLIMATE_L4_REP_OBSERVATIONS_008_057). The mean sea level evolution estimated in the global ocean is derived from the average of the gridded sea level maps weighted by the cosine of the latitude. The annual and semi-annual periodic signals are adjusted and the time series is low-pass filtered. The curve is corrected for the effect of the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment using the ICE5G-VM2 GIA model (Peltier, 2004).
information.png Provider:
Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service
information.png Dataset URL:
https://resources.marine.copernicus.eu/product-detail/GLOBAL_OMI_SL_area_averaged_anomalies/INFORMATION

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Figure Observed and projected change in global mean sea level The left figure depicts the rise in global mean sea level from 1900 to 2020 based on two data sources. All values are relative to the average level of the period 1993-2010, during which the two datasets overlap. The red line (Palmer et al., 2021) shows the ensemble sea-level reconstruction (using five members) of sea level anomalies during 1900–2010 (Palmer et al., 2021; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abdaec#erlabdaecs2). The dark blue line (CMEMS) shows the filtered sea level anomalies corrected for the TOPEX-A instrumental drift (Ablain et al., 2017; WCRP Sea Level Budget Group, 2018), corrected for the GIA using the ICE5G-VM2 GIA model (Peltier, 2004), for the time series from 1993 to 2020. The right figure shows the global mean sea level projections (in meters), for 2020-2150, relative to the period 1995–2014, for five Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios: SSP1-1.9, SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5. Details of the sea-level projections are provided in Box TS.4 and section 9.6 of the Working Group 1 contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report. The scenarios are described in sections TS1.3 and 1.6 and Cross-Chapter Box 1.4 of the Working Group 1 contribution.
Figure
Archived
Observed and projected change in global mean sea level The left panel depicts the rise in global mean sea level from 1880 to 2019 based on two data sources. The red line (DMW) shows the hybrid sea-level reconstruction of sea level anomalies during 1900–2015 (Dangendorf et al., 2019). The uncertainty interval around is shaded. The dark blue line (CMEMS) shows the filtered sea level anomalies for the time period from 1993 to 2019 based on satellite observations (Ablain et al., 2017; WCRP Sea Level Budget Group, 2018). All values are relative to the average level of the period 1993-2012, during which the two datasets overlap. The right panel shows projections of global mean sea level until 2100 for three emissions scenarios based on the IPCC SROCC (Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate).
Figure Trend in absolute sea level across Europe based on satellite measurements, 1993-2019 Spatial distribution of trends in mean sea level in European seas (January 1993- February 2019).

See also

Page Coastal — relative sea level More than one third of the European population lives in coastal regions. Low-lying countries, islands and communities know from experience that rising sea levels are a major climate hazard. Higher relative sea levels and corresponding storm surges threaten property, infrastructure and lives. They can lead to coastal erosion and make surface water and groundwater unusable through saltwater intrusion, with knock-on effects for agriculture and coastal and land ecosystems. Local sea level rise can be strongly affected by human activities, such as groundwater extraction or soil compaction from buildings. Understanding all this is crucial not only for coastal planning, ecosystem management and protection but also for putting in place measures to protect transport, energy and other infrastructure.

Used in indicators

Indicator Specification Global and European sea level rise This indicator comprises several metrics to describe past and future sea level rise globally and along European coastlines: observed change in global mean sea level, based on reconstructions from tide gauge measurements (since 1900) and on satellite altimeter data (since 1993); projected change in global sea level for three different forcing scenarios; spatial trends in relative sea level along the European coastline, based on tide gauge stations with long time series (since 1970); and projected change in relative sea level across European seas
Indicator Specification
Archived
Global and European sea-level rise This indicator comprises several metrics to describe past and future sea level rises globally and in European seas. Global sea level rise is reported because it is the second-most important metric of global climate change (after global mean surface temperature), and because it is a proxy of sea level rise in Europe. Past sea level trends across Europe are reported in two different ways: first, absolute sea level change based on satellite altimeter measurements that reflect primarily the contribution of global climate change to sea level rise in Europe; second, relative sea level change based on tide gauges that also include local land movement, which is more relevant for the development of regional adaptation strategies. The indicator also addresses changes in extreme sea level along the European coast. The following aspects of sea level rise are included: observed change in GMSL, based on two reconstructions from tide gauge measurements (since 1880) and on satellite altimeter data (since 1993); spatial trends in absolute sea level across European seas, based on satellite measurements (since 1993); spatial trends in relative sea level across European seas, based on European tide gauge stations with long time series (since 1970); projected change in global sea level for three different forcing scenarios; projected change in relative sea level across European seas; projected change in the frequency of flooding events along European coasts.

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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/external/time-series-of-mean-sea or scan the QR code.

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