Sea level rise

Abstract

This section is primarily concerned with decade-to-century changes in global-mean sea level, particularly as related to climatic change. First, the evidence for sea level rise during the last 10yr is reviewed as a basis for looking for climate-sea level connections on a decade-to-century timescale. Next, the possible contributing factors - thermal expansion of the oceans and the melting of land ice - to both past and future sea level change are examined. Finally, the issue of future sea level due to global warming is addressed. -Authors