We invite contributions from studies using historical and recent estimates of sea level from tide gauges, satellites, proxies and/or Earth and ocean models to improve our understanding of the past and present changes in sea level, and to produce better predictions of and constrain future changes.
Various questions will be addressed in this session. For example, do we fully understand the reasons for the global and regional sea level rise in the past, present and future? How have extreme sea levels evolved? What is the role of ocean dynamics and fresh water flux from melting glaciers and ice sheets in determining patterns of sea level change? How do these patterns from surface mass load redistribution impact on sea level changes? How unusual is the rate of present day sea level rise compared to the last centuries? What fraction of this recent sea level rise can be attributed to human activities? What observations are needed to better understand sea level rise and variability, in particular to anticipate future changes and impacts at the coast? What is the level of confidence in latest estimates of sea level change? Are there ways to reduce uncertainties of the predicted future climate?