Measuring changes in ground level at tide gauges using continuous GPS and absolute gravimetry, to improve estimates of changes in sea level around Britain

Researchers studying climate change have used historical tide gauge measurements from all over the world to investigate the changes in sea level that have occurred over the last century or so. However, such estimates are a combination of any true sea level variations and any changes in ground level at the specific tide gauge. For a tide gauge record to be used to determine the climate related changes in sea level it is necessary to correct for any changes in ground level. The development in geodetic techniques for monitoring changes in ground level at British tide gauges has been on-going at the IESSG and POL since 1990, based on research funded by both Defra and the Environment Agency. Since 1996, this research has focused on the establishment of continuous GPS (CGPS) stations and the use of absolute gravity (AG), as independent geodetic techniques for measuring changes in ground level. This paper details the results of Defra/EA R&D project FD2319, which is part of the Risk Evaluation and Understanding of Uncertainty Theme. The paper shows how CGPS and AG have been used on a national scale to monitor changes in ground level at tide gauges and obtain estimates of changes in sea level, decoupled from changes in ground level.