Sea level change from Topex‐Poseidon altimetry for 1993–1999 and possible warming of the southern oceans

Abstract

In this study we investigate the contribution of individual oceanic regions to the global mean sea level change (mean trend and interannual variations) observed by the satellite Topex‐Poseidon from 1993 through 1999. This allows us to analyse sea level change in regions not primary influenced by short‐term climate fluctuations, in particular the 1997–1998 ENSO event. We report that the sea level in the southern oceans (here defined as the region between 60°S and 30°S) has been rising between January 1993 and December 1999 at a rate of 1.0±0.1 mm/yr and 1.7±0.1 mm/yr between December 1994 and April 1999. This rise is positively correlated with an increase of sea surface temperature and thus could reflect a warming of the southern oceans waters.