Long term, recent and near-future sea-level evolution

Abstract

Past sea-level positions deduced from field observations are generally only of local value, while estimations of global (eustatic) sea-level changes can be obtained with assumptions only in a very few cases, or attempted with limited accuracy by using proxy data. Since 1993, satellite altimetry is providing global sea-level estimations every ten days, showing that coastal sea-level trends may differ from trends offshore. Evidence of an acceleration in the global sea-level rise since the last century has recently been provided by both satellites and tide-gauges, and confirmed by oceanographic and glaciological studies.