The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

A Mediterranean sea level reconstruction (1950–2008) with error budget estimates

A Mediterranean sea level reconstruction (1950–2008) with error budget estimates
A Mediterranean sea level reconstruction (1950–2008) with error budget estimates
Reconstructed sea level fields are commonly obtained by using techniques that combine long-term records from coastal and island tide gauges with spatial covariance structures determined from recent altimetric observations. In this paper we estimate the error budget of the Mediterranean sea level reconstructions based on a reduced space optimal interpolation. In particular, we characterize the baseline error of the methodology, which is linked to the capacity of tide gauges to capture open sea processes and to the representativity of the selected EOFs. Also, we analyze the impact of the non-stationarity of the EOFs and the uneven tide gauge spatial distribution. Results suggest that the baseline error is the dominant contribution in most areas of the Mediterranean (average value of 2.7 cm). In particular, the error due to the truncation of the EOFs is the largest contribution to the baseline error. The other error sources have a more localized impact, which can be important in certain areas with atypical mesoscale activity. The skills of the reconstruction are more dependent on the length of the period than on the particular years used to compute the EOFs. Redundant tide gauges improve the reconstruction only slightly while a single tide gauge at a critical location improves it significantly. In addition we estimate the total error linked to all sources of uncertainty. Finally, we also present an updated sea level reconstruction which includes several improvements with respect to previous reconstructions. The comparison with independent data shows that this new reconstruction provides better results with respect to previous products.
Sea level reconstruction, Mediterranean, tide gauge, satellite altimetry, uncertainties
0921-8181
118-133
Calafat, F.M.
7c43d62a-c376-446c-93b4-87d4c1bd9d05
Jordà, G.
b115333d-2852-49d8-bfc2-f42827580201
Calafat, F.M.
7c43d62a-c376-446c-93b4-87d4c1bd9d05
Jordà, G.
b115333d-2852-49d8-bfc2-f42827580201

Calafat, F.M. and Jordà, G. (2011) A Mediterranean sea level reconstruction (1950–2008) with error budget estimates. Global and Planetary Change, 79 (1-2), 118-133. (doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2011.09.003).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Reconstructed sea level fields are commonly obtained by using techniques that combine long-term records from coastal and island tide gauges with spatial covariance structures determined from recent altimetric observations. In this paper we estimate the error budget of the Mediterranean sea level reconstructions based on a reduced space optimal interpolation. In particular, we characterize the baseline error of the methodology, which is linked to the capacity of tide gauges to capture open sea processes and to the representativity of the selected EOFs. Also, we analyze the impact of the non-stationarity of the EOFs and the uneven tide gauge spatial distribution. Results suggest that the baseline error is the dominant contribution in most areas of the Mediterranean (average value of 2.7 cm). In particular, the error due to the truncation of the EOFs is the largest contribution to the baseline error. The other error sources have a more localized impact, which can be important in certain areas with atypical mesoscale activity. The skills of the reconstruction are more dependent on the length of the period than on the particular years used to compute the EOFs. Redundant tide gauges improve the reconstruction only slightly while a single tide gauge at a critical location improves it significantly. In addition we estimate the total error linked to all sources of uncertainty. Finally, we also present an updated sea level reconstruction which includes several improvements with respect to previous reconstructions. The comparison with independent data shows that this new reconstruction provides better results with respect to previous products.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: October 2011
Keywords: Sea level reconstruction, Mediterranean, tide gauge, satellite altimetry, uncertainties
Organisations: Physical Oceanography

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 366324
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/366324
ISSN: 0921-8181
PURE UUID: 433fd8cb-9975-46a6-b0e4-1a46c52c7858

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 24 Jun 2014 13:53
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 17:06

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: F.M. Calafat
Author: G. Jordà

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×