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by Fabio Crameri, ISSI

Published: 04 November 2024

New Insights from Satellite Observations

by Francisco M. CalafatSvetlana JevrejevaFabio Crameri

From the Teams

Sea level

Oceans

Satellites

Linking Coastal Sea Levels to Open Ocean Dynamics

The project of ISSI Team 524 dives into how changes in the open ocean influence coastal sea levels. Through coastal altimetry, tide gauge data, and advanced model simulations, this research uncovers key insights on sea-level fluctuations that impact both local shores and broader coastal systems globally.

Key Insights

1. North West European Shelf Analysis

Focused on the processes driving sea-level variability on the North West European Shelf, the team isolated local and remote forces affecting the region. Findings reveal that coastal winds and remote forces from lower latitudes shape North West European Shelf sea levels. Local winds push water onto the shelf through complex currents, while remote forces create a uniform sea-level rise across the shelf, driven by large-scale oceanic changes.

The North Atlantic Eastern Boundary mode. Red indicates regions of coherent sea-level variability. Figure adjusted by ISSI from Wise et al. (2024).

2. Global Coastal Sea-Level Patterns

Using a Bayesian Mixture Model to analyse coastal tide gauge data and altimetry, researchers identified coherent patterns of sea-level variability. Some regions, like the Western tropical Pacific, align with known climate patterns, but many other areas appear decoupled from deep ocean variations. This shows that coastal sea levels in certain regions can fluctuate independently of the open ocean.

Understanding these patterns of coastal and oceanic coupling is essential for predicting future coastal sea-level changes. This work, therefore, offers invaluable insights into the processes governing coastal sea levels and equips scientists with the knowledge to enhance coastal resiliency.

Clusters of coherent sea-level variability based on monthly mean (mm) tide gauge (A) and coastal altimetry (B).

Why It Matters

With rising concerns over sea-level rise and its effects on coastal communities, this research could lead to improved predictions and adaptive strategies for future sea-level scenarios worldwide.

Publications

For more details and the complete list of publications, go to the Team webpage

Credits ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, A. Martel