Discussion of a Modelling Study of Coastal Inundation Induced by Storm Surge, Sea-level Rise, and Subsidence in the Gulf of Mexico: The US Average Tide Gauge is not Accelerating Consistently with the Worldwide Average
A. Parker *
School of Engineering and Physical Science, James Cook University, Townsville 4811 QLD, Australia
C. Ollier
School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009 WA, Australia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Yang et al. [1] assume sea level rise induced by global warming is real, and that sea levels may rise by 1 meter by 2100. They then go on to derive ecological conclusions from these assumptions. There is of course no foundation for the ecological speculation if the basic assumptions are false. Real tide gauge data show that sea level is rising slowly, both worldwide and the US, without any acceleration. As shown in this comment, the last 3 NOAA surveys of sea level rises, compiled in 1999, 2006 and 2013, indicate that the rate of sea level rise is reducing from one survey to the next.
Keywords: Sea level velocity, sea level acceleration, tide gauge measurements, United States