Sea level variability and coastal inundation over the northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sea level is a key element of global-scale climatic changes with significant coastal impacts. The northeastern Mediterranean Sea (Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas: AICS) consists of extended low-lying coastal zones exposed to coastal inundation due to seawater level increases. The variability of the Sea Level Anomaly (SLA) in the AICS has been evaluated with the use of satellite-derived observations from 1993 to 2021. The general SLA trend over the AICS domain was 3.6 mm/year, which is higher than that of the overall Mediterranean Sea. The coastal inundation variability along the AICS coastline, specifically in 20 characteristic study areas, was investigated based on the long-term satellite-derived sea level observations, high-resolution land elevation data, and numerical simulations, conducted with a coastal inundation (CoastFLOOD) model. The coastal zones were categorized based on the frequency of occurrence and percentage coverage of flooding incidents during the 29-year period, while the interannual trends and the seasonality of inundated littoral and inland areas also showed intense spatial variation. High flooding levels occurred at coastal areas of either extended low-lying areas and/or high sea level elevations. The coastal zones were categorized based on a heuristic Coastal Inundation Hazard Index (CIHI: 1–5 ranking) that was determined by the occurrence frequency of severe floods (temporal component) and their impact area (spatial component). Our study findings provide vital information about the coastal inundation conditions and the respective hazard level of the AICS, useful to support enhanced coastal zone management for the improvement of coastal protection and decisions about coastal hazards’ mitigation.