Sea-Level Science Understanding Tides, Surges, Tsunamis and Mean Sea-Level Changes

Understanding sea-level processes, such as ocean tides, storm surges, tsunamis, El Niño and rises caused by climate change, is key to planning effective coastal defence. Building on David Pugh's classic book Tides, Surges and Mean Sea-Level, this substantially expanded, full-colour book now incorporates major recent technological advances in the areas of satellite altimetry and other geodetic techniques (particularly GPS), tsunami science, measurement of mean sea level and analyses of extreme sea levels. The authors discuss how each surveying and measuring technique complements others in providing an understanding of present-day sea-level change and more reliable forecasts of future changes. Giving the how and the why of sea-level change on timescales from hours to centuries, this authoritative and exciting book is ideal for graduate students and researchers in oceanography, marine engineering, geodesy, marine geology, marine biology and climatology. It will also be of key interest to coastal engineers and governmental policy-makers.

Preface; List of acronyms; List of symbols; 1. Introduction; 2. Observations and data reduction; 3. Tidal forces; 4. Tidal analysis and prediction; 5. Tidal dynamics; 6. Shallow water and coastal tides; 7. Storm surges, meteotsunamis and other meteorological effects on sea level; 8. Tsunamis; 9. Sea-level changes in space; 10. Mean sea-level changes in time; 11. Sea-level changes in time to do with the solid Earth; 12. Sea-level applications; 13. Sea level and life; Appendix A. The basic hydrostatic and hydrodynamic equations; Appendix B. Currents; Appendix C. High and low water times and heights; Appendix D. Theoretical tidal dynamics; Appendix E. Legal definitions in the coastal zone; Glossary; References; Index.

David Pugh is a marine science consultant, also holding positions as Visiting Professor at Liverpool University, and Visiting Scientist at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC). His research specialises in tides, surges, mean sea level, coastal management and climate change, together with marine economics and the history of sea level. After a career in science and science management with the UK Natural Environment Research Council, Dr Pugh served as President of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, 2003–2007. He had previously been Director of the PSMSL and Founding Chairman of the IOC global sea level network, GLOSS. Dr Pugh has authored two books and recently co-edited Troubled Waters: Ocean Science and Governance (Cambridge University Press, 2010) published for the 50th Anniversary of the IOC. He has been awarded an OBE for services to marine sciences.
Philip Woodworth is an Individual Merit Scientist in the Natural Environmental Research Council based at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Liverpool, and also a Visiting Professor at Liverpool University. He has been Director of the PSMSL and Chairman of GLOSS. Dr Woodworth has published extensively on tides, sea-level changes and geodesy, including co-editing Understanding Sea-Level Rise and Variability (2010), and has been involved in each IPCC research assessment. His awards include the Denny Medal of IMAREST, the Vening-Meinesz Medal of the European Geosciences Union, the 50th Anniversary Medal of the IOC, and a minute share in the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the IPCC. He was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to science.