Coastal sea level variability: Geodetic measurements, driving factors & dynamic reconstruction.

Investigations on the spatiotemporal variability of coastal sea level and its mechanisms are of great scientific and practical importance. Unlike deep-ocean sea level that can be measured by satellite altimetry, studies on the spatial variability of coastal sea level require measurements from tide gauges and their associated vertical leveling information. Also, the dynamical mechanisms controlling the temporal variability has long been a research hotspot of coastal ocean dynamics. Local winds on the shelf and coastal currents are well recognized to be important in driving coastal sea level variability, but how do open-ocean signals affect sea level at the coast is less known. In addition, coastal sea level reconstruction or prediction often relies on climate models or statistical models. From a new and more dynamic perspective, we recently propose a dynamic framework to quantitatively reconstruct sea level at the coast. This presentation will focus on our recent works on the spatiotemporal variability of coastal sea level, including its alongshore tilts, mechanisms and dynamic reconstruction, as well as the implications and outstanding issues for further research.