Global sea level rise is one of the more certain impacts of human-induced global warming, although future projections of its magnitude vary widely. Given the large and growing population and economic activity in the coastal zone, as well as the importance of its ecosystems, the potential impacts of sea level rise have elicited widespread concern. To understand sea level change, we must know the sum of global, regional, and local trends related to changing ocean and land levels. Indeed, coastal managers are concerned about the interplay among global sea level rise, regional and local subsidence, and variations in sediment supply, as these determine the impacts at the coast and form the basis of management response plans. The impending threat of sea level rise to large, low-lying coastal cities such as New Orleans, Shanghai, and Venice, and island communities such as Maldives, Kiribati, and Tuvalu, highlights the importance of understanding all these factors. To address these issues, the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) organized a workshop in June 2006, which led to the publication of this book.

Horton, B.P. 2011. Review of Understanding Sea-Level Rise and Variability, edited by J.A. Church, P.L. Woodworth, T. Aarup, and W.S. Wilson. Oceanography 24(2):214–216, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2011.46.

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