8
J.F.R. Gower
Fig. 1.7 Ice mass loss from
Greenland (top) and Antartica
(bottom) seen by the Gravity
Recovery and Climate
Experiment, GRACE
(Velicogna, 2009). Each plot
shows points, the result of
smoothing by a 13 month
window, and a quadratic fit
a 5-year life, is now in a 2-year extension, and will eventually run out of the fuel
needed to keep it aloft.
1.8 Satellite Altimetry and Global Sea Level Rise
One of the most fascinating time series, especially for people living near a coast,
is of global sea level measured by the Topex/Poseidon and Jason satellite altimeters
(Leuliette et al., 2004). The data 4 (Fig. 1.8) show a very clear and relatively constant
rate of increase of 3.1 ± 0.4 mm/year with an rms noise level on the individual
points of only a few millimeters, much lower than is possible from shore-based tide
gauges.
4 Available from http://sealevel.colorado.edu/results.php
J.F.R. Gower
Fig. 1.7 Ice mass loss from
Greenland (top) and Antartica
(bottom) seen by the Gravity
Recovery and Climate
Experiment, GRACE
(Velicogna, 2009). Each plot
shows points, the result of
smoothing by a 13 month
window, and a quadratic fit
a 5-year life, is now in a 2-year extension, and will eventually run out of the fuel
needed to keep it aloft.
1.8 Satellite Altimetry and Global Sea Level Rise
One of the most fascinating time series, especially for people living near a coast,
is of global sea level measured by the Topex/Poseidon and Jason satellite altimeters
(Leuliette et al., 2004). The data 4 (Fig. 1.8) show a very clear and relatively constant
rate of increase of 3.1 ± 0.4 mm/year with an rms noise level on the individual
points of only a few millimeters, much lower than is possible from shore-based tide
gauges.
4 Available from http://sealevel.colorado.edu/results.php