The Sea Level Impacts of Human Activities

Dear Colleagues,

Humanity has grown to the point that it is a planetary controlling force, even impacting global sea levels in multiple ways. Sea level can be defined in two ways. The first is relative sea level, which compares the elevation of the local sea surface to the shoreline at a specific point. This is controlled by both alterations in the sea surface and the land surface, each of which varies depending on location. The second is eustatic sea level, which compares the volume of the earth’s ocean water with the volume of the earth’s ocean basins, and is reflected by the elevation of the sea surface relative to the gravitational centre of the earth. This is difficult to measure for the geologic past (although various attempts have been made), but is readily measured now on the basis of satellite altimetry.

Human activities have impacted each of these sea level relations. Through the withdrawal of ground water and oil and gas resources along coastlines, local land subsidence has augmented sea level rise caused by other mechanisms, as observed along the US Gulf Coast. By burning fossil fuels, compounded by deforestation, modern societies have led to climate change that has caused glacial melting (and the addition of water to the ocean) as well as the warming of ocean water and its consequent expansion. Further, people have added water to the ocean directly by ground water mining, deforestation, surface water diversion for agriculture and other activities, while removing water from the ocean by building new dams throughout the 20th century. The balance of these activities likely led to a masking of the true rate of sea level rise in the 20th century as measured by tide gauges, but a more robust analysis is needed before accurate projections of 21st century sea level rise can be made.

This Special Issue is directed toward assessing the state of the art of measurement, causes and consequences of human-induced sea level changes. Papers are encouraged that focus on both relative and eustatic sea level changes that have been or will be affected by human activities. On the one hand, a better understanding of the driving mechanisms will enable more robust projections of future sea level rise. On the other, assessment of the consequences regarding coastal infrastructure will elucidate potential impacts and help inform coastal zone management and adaptation in preparation for a migrating coastline, exacerbated storm impacts, and increasingly frequent flooding events.

Prof. Dr. Dork Sahagian
Guest Editor

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