Oceans Rising Faster Near Coasts

New Scientist ^ | 4-26-2004 | Jenny Hogan

[blam]

Oceans rising faster near coasts

09:45 26 April 04

Satellite measurements of sea levels have uncovered a bizarre effect - the sea seems to be rising faster near the coast than in mid-ocean.

Simon Holgate and Philip Woodworth of the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, in Bidston, UK, found this discrepancy using the Topex satellite, launched in 1992. The satellite measures sea level by bouncing microwaves off the ocean and timing the return trip.

According to the Topex data, global average sea level rose by 2.8 millimetres a year between 1993 and 2002. This is thought to be a consequence of global warming: water in the oceans expands as it warms up, and more is added as glaciers and ice caps melt.

But during the same period, the water level within 100 kilometres of the coast rose faster, by an average of 3.7 millimetres a year.

Holgate and Woodworth wonder whether the oceans are behaving like water in a bathtub. If you splash in the bath, waves travel outwards and then run around the edges of the tub.

Boundary waves

In 1996, ocean modellers predicted that this effect could be at work in the seas. Kirk Bryan of Princeton University and his colleagues worked out what would happen when part of an ocean heats up: the water expands, creating waves that hit the coast then travel around the rim of the ocean basin for several years.

Holgate and Woodworth are the first to suggest that we can see this happening, says Jonathan Gregory, an expert in climate change at the University of Reading, UK.

This is not necessarily bad news for the many millions of people who live near the shore. The boundary waves might have been caused by some relatively sudden event, such as a particularly warm year, in which case they will subside.

But if they are driven by an ongoing process of climate change, the difference between coast and ocean could get worse, and flooding could be an even bigger problem than scientists have anticipated.

Journal reference: Geophysical Research Letters (vol 31, p L07305)

Jenny Hogan

[commish]

Psst! They are called waves. ;-)

[Right Wing Professor]

According to the Topex data, global average sea level rose by 2.8 millimetres a year between 1993 and 2002.

A whole inch per decade. Why, in 100 years they could rise an entire foot. Am I glad I'm living in Nebraska.

[N. Theknow]

Am I glad I'm living in Nebraska.

Relax. The ocean is rising faster at the coast than in Omaha.

[ken5050]

Omaha is sinking.....

[Yaelle]

In a related report, air was found to sink much lower toward sea level than in the mountains.

[AAABEST]

lol

[PeterPrinciple]

Oceans rising faster near coasts

Where do these idiot journalists go to school?

Are these the same guys who wrote "who is buried in Grant's tomb?"

[TomGuy]

We're all gonna drown!!!!
Man the lifeboats!!!
Head for the hills!!!

[TheLion]

"Oceans rising faster near coasts".....well, that would be one of the first places you should look!

[freeangel]

Isn't the middle already full?

[OregonRancher]

SURFS UP!!!!!! GRAB THE WAX!!!!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Dutch Boy]

Rising from what chronological starting point? If you take any large set of data and pick a point at random. Then monitor the next few data points and what do you get? Absolutely nothing meaningful representing the entire data set.

In other words, these dunderheads are measuring change but who defined the starting point as the optimal aim point? It's a arbitrary selection of something in the past with no regard if that was good, bad or indifferent.

[spunkets]

"Oceans Rising Faster Near Coasts"

LOL!

"waves that hit the coast then travel around the rim of the ocean basin for several years. "

LOL! The water returns back out to sea normal to the coastline, not parallel to it.

"If you splash in the bath, waves travel outwards and then run around the edges of the tub. "

LOL! Not unless the water in the tub is stirred. The energy involved for any temperature in the neighborhood of their guesses is not sufficient to do what they claim.

[jackbill]

OMG! I'm on the coast. And I live on the waterfront. Should I abandon ship? Anyone want to buy the place?

What to do. What to do. What to do.

[TheLion]

I think they are using this to make their point about "Global Warming.

[gitmo]

OMG! I'm on the coast. And I live on the waterfront. Should I abandon ship? Anyone want to buy the place?

Well, according to the article, you'd be safer to move to the middle of the ocean. It's not rising as fast there.

[Jaysun]

Satellite measurements of sea levels have uncovered a bizarre effect - the sea seems to be rising faster near the coast than in mid-ocean

This is a real crisis. It means that the water in the ocean is no longer level, but is now taking on the shape of a "Pringles Chip." Of course, water always loses its' ability to remain level when it heats up .......right?

I'm sorry, but I've pretty much written off everything that these global warming salesmen say as unmitigated bullsh*t. They need to hone their 3 day weather forecasting skills before they start trying to predict the end of the earth.

[Mike Darancette]

Holgate and Woodworth wonder whether the oceans are behaving like water in a bathtub. If you splash in the bath, waves travel outwards and then run around the edges of the tub.

For the sake of humanity keep the Hildebeast out of the ocean.