Global Sea Level Changes over the Past 15 Years
Here is some solid data on longer term sea level changes that can be usually difficult to find.........
Warming water and melting ice have raised global sea levels an average of 1.7 inches (4.5 cm) from 1993-2008, but as you can see from the image below, the rise is far from uniform, according to the NASA News article.
This image was made possible by the detailed record of sea surface height measurements begun by Topex/Poseidon and continued by Jason-1.
Why are there so many differences in sea level change across the world? Variation of winds, currents and long term changes in atmospheric circulation patterns. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) has certainly had an impact on the higher rise in the western Pacific due to the warming of the ocean water.
Key
The light blues indicate fairly constant sea level since 1993.
The light green indicates a moderate rise in sea level during the period.
The white, red and yellow colors indicate regions where sea levels have risen most rapidly during the 15-year period (up to 10 mm a year).
