Sea level

Abstract

Global variations of sea level are reviewed in the light of their behaviour in the recent past and possible consequences of a future rise that may be accelerated by the greenhouse effect. Most regions, are subsiding, so that sea level is always rising; these subsiding regions are also the most heavily populated, so that the threat of a CO2-induced acceleration of sea-level rise is real. At the present time extreme human hazards due to specific storm and tide surge events are believed to be more serious than secular rise. Possible steps to mitigate coastal hazads are considered. Mitigation of the hazards fall into three categories: 1) long-term planning of refuge and evacuation systems, 2) short-term warning systems, and 3) scientific prediction systems. -from Authors