Sea-Level Changes (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Sea-Level Changes 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 8
Acknowledgement 6
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 10
CHAPTER 2. PERIODICAL SEA-LEVEL CHANGES 14
Astronomical tides 14
The Chandler effect – changes in the rotation of the Earth 60
CHAPTER 3. THE METEOROLOGICAL AND OCEANOGRAPHIC CONTRIBUTION TO SEA LEVELS 68
Atmospheric pressure and sea level 68
The wind effect – storm surges 78
The contribution of water density 95
The effect of currents 99
Evaporation and precipitation 111
CHAPTER 4. SEASONAL VARIATIONS 118
The seasonal cycle in sea level 118
The season alvariation of the slope of the water surface 137
The seasonal water balance of the oceans 146
CHAPTER 5. A WORLD-WIDE MEAN SEA LEVEL AND ITS DEVIATIONS 152
The open deep regions of the oceans 153
The adjacent and Mediterranean seas and the transition areas between them and the oceans 159
The near-shore regions in the oceans and seas 171
CHAPTER 6. LONG-TERM (SECULAR) CHANGES IN SEA LEVEL 174
Vertical movements of the Earth’s crust 174
The eustatic factor 186
CHAPTER 7. SEICHES 194
CHAPTER 8. TSUNAMIS – EARTHQUAKES AND MEAN SEA LEVEL 206
Tsunamis 206
Effect of earthquakes on sea level 211
CHAPTER 9. DETERMINATION OF THE MEAN SEA LEVEL FROM THE RECORDS 214
CHAPTER 10. PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF SEA-LEVEL VARIATIONS 218
Tide prediction and tidal tables 218
Technical aspects and coast protection – sea-level statistics 223
Storm-surge forecasts 251
The tsunami warning system 253
Sea-level changes and water pollution 255
APPENDIX: A FEW WORDS ABOUT PHENOMENA CONNECTED WITH SEA- LEVEL CHANGES DURING THE PRE-CHRISTIAN ERA AND THEIR MODERN EXPLANATION 266
References 270
Index 284