Towards comprehensive observing and modeling systems for monitoring and predicting regional to coastal sea level
Ponte, Rui M.; Carson, Mark; Cirano, Mauro; Domingues, Catia M.; Jevrejeva, Svetlana; Marcos, Marta; Mitchum, Gary; van de Wal, R. S.W.; Woodworth, Philip L.; Ablain, Michaël; Ardhuin, Fabrice; Ballu, Valérie; Becker, Mélanie; Benveniste, Jérôme; Birol, Florence; Bradshaw, Elizabeth; Cazenave, Anny; De 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; Simon, Simon D.; Wöppelmann, Guy; Zanna, Laure; Zhang, Xuebin
(2019) Frontiers in Marine Science, volume 6, issue JUL
(Article)
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
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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.
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Keywords: Coastal adaptation, Coastal impacts, Coastal ocean modeling, Coastal sea level, Integrated observing system, Observational gaps, Sea-level trends, Oceanography, Global and Planetary Change, Aquatic Science, Water Science and Technology, Environmental Science (miscellaneous), Ocean Engineering
ISSN: 2296-7745
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
(Peer reviewed)