Impact of mass redistribution on regional sea level changes over the South China Sea shelves

Thompson, B.; Jevrejeva, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9490-4665; Zachariah, J.; Faller, D. G.; Tkalich, P.. 2023 Impact of mass redistribution on regional sea level changes over the South China Sea shelves. Geophysical Research Letters, 50 (23). https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105740

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105740

Abstract/Summary

This study investigates long-term sea level changes in the South China Sea (SCS) using a validated high-resolution regional ocean model simulation for the Maritime Continent. The contributions of ocean mass redistribution and steric sea level are examined to understand the sea level variations. The ocean bottom pressure (OBP) serves as an indicator of sea level variations linked to alterations in ocean mass flux. The OBP accounts for over 80% of the total sea level change over the shelves, while the steric sea level emerges as the dominant factor, contributing over 50% to the sea level change in the deep SCS. Luzon Strait transport shows a weakening trend in the last six decades, resulting in higher heat accumulation and larger steric expansion in the deep SCS. The ocean mass redistribution acts as a mechanism to balance the contrasting steric induced sea level changes over the deep SCS and shallow continental shelves.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105740
ISSN:	0094-8276
Additional Keywords:	South China Sea, sea level change, NEMO, ocean mass distribution, steric sea level, Luzon Strait transport
Date made live:	19 Dec 2023 22:25 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/536518

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105740

ISSN:

0094-8276

Additional Keywords:

South China Sea, sea level change, NEMO, ocean mass distribution, steric sea level, Luzon Strait transport

Date made live:

19 Dec 2023 22:25 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/536518