Sea level monitoring in Africa

Abstract

A review is provided of the African sea level dataset, which is limited not only in size, especially given the great length of the African coastline, but also in quality. The review is undertaken primarily from Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) and Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) perspectives, but the conclusions on the need for major new investments in sea level infrastructure are undoubtedly the same as would be arrived at through any other approach. Stations to be installed as part of the Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa (ODINAfrica) programme are described and a survey of currently existing and planned sea level stations in Africa is presented, together with information on where data for existing stations may be found.