Sea level changes according to data of tide gauge station and its relationship with elements of climate in eastern Mediterranean: 1972-2009

Abstract

Mediterranean Sea is one of the areas that indicated the greatest increase in sea level rise during the 20th century. The eastern Mediterranean had also greatest increase in sea level with in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, sea level data observed at 11 tide gauge stations located in the Levantine Sea, Cretan Sea and south of the Aegean Sea and gridded climatological data were used in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. In this frame, monthly and annual variations and trends in average, average maximum and average minimum sea levels data and mean air temperature, mean sea level pressure and total precipitation series were investigated. According to the results of analysis, there are statistically significant increase trends in temperature and all sea level series. These trend rates are of +1.57 mm/year in average sea level, +1.89 mm/year in average maximum, +1.36 mm/year in average minimum and 0.026 ºC/year in temperature. According to the long-term averages, annually amplitude is 14.9 cm, while, the highest and the lowest levels of amplitude are reached in August and March, respectively. According to the interannual average maximum and minimum sea level values, amplitude of 36.5 cm is seen.