Minute Sea-Level Analysis (MISELA): a high-frequency sea-level analysis global dataset

Petra Zemunik,Jadranka Šepić,Leon Ćatipović,Havu Pellikka,Ivica Vilibić

doi:10.5194/essd-13-4121-2021

Abstract

Abstract. Sea-level observations provide information on a variety of processes occurring over different temporal and spatial scales that may contribute to coastal flooding and hazards. However, global research on sea-level extremes is restricted to hourly datasets, which prevent the quantification and analyses of processes occurring at timescales between a few minutes and a few hours. These shorter-period processes, like seiches, meteotsunamis, infragravity and coastal waves, may even dominate in low tidal basins. Therefore, a new global 1 min sea-level dataset – MISELA (Minute Sea-Level Analysis) – has been developed, encompassing quality-checked records of nonseismic sea-level oscillations at tsunami timescales (T<2 h) obtained from 331 tide-gauge sites (https://doi.org/10.14284/456, Zemunik et al., 2021b). This paper describes data quality control procedures applied to the MISELA dataset, world and regional coverage of tide-gauge sites, and lengths of time series. The dataset is appropriate for global, regional or local research of atmospherically induced high-frequency sea-level oscillations, which should be included in the overall sea-level extremes assessments.

Highlights

Extreme sea-level events represent a major hazard in coastal zones and have an immediate impact on the coasts unlike processes acting on longer timescales, such as the rise of the mean sea-level, which allow much more time for adaptation (Menéndez and Woodworth, 2010)
This paper describes data quality control procedures applied to the Minute Sea-Level Analysis (MISELA) dataset, world and regional coverage of tide-gauge sites, and lengths of time series
Global Extreme Sea Level Analysis dataset (GESLA; http://www.gesla.org, last access: 19 August 2021, Woodworth et al, 2016, 2017), which contains global sea-level data with an hourly or higher (e.g. 10 or 15 min) resolution at the majority of 1355 tide gauges, quality control is not undertaken centrally and instead relies on procedures undertaken by data providers; 4

Summary

Introduction

Extreme sea-level events represent a major hazard in coastal zones and have an immediate impact on the coasts unlike processes acting on longer timescales, such as the rise of the mean sea-level, which allow much more time for adaptation (Menéndez and Woodworth, 2010). The sensitivity of the coastal zone infrastructure and populations to extreme sea levels emphasizes the need for investigation of their sources and characteristics, estimation of their incidence and strengths, cataloguing of historical events, assessments of their behaviour under the future climate, development of warning systems, and, the conception of possible adaptation measures to these phenomena These attempts are significantly limited by the availability of sealevel data in terms of resolution, coverage and quality. Global Extreme Sea Level Analysis dataset (GESLA; http://www.gesla.org, last access: 19 August 2021, Woodworth et al, 2016, 2017), which contains global sea-level data with an hourly or higher (e.g. 10 or 15 min) resolution at the majority of 1355 tide gauges, quality control is not undertaken centrally and instead relies on procedures undertaken by data providers; 4. The paper finishes with the data availability statement and discussion on applications, perspectives and possible improvements of the MISELA dataset

Sources of data

Description of the MISELA dataset

14 June 2018

Findings

Conclusions and perspectives