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Sea-Level Changes: The Last 20,000 Years
Sea-level changes since the last glacial maximum have varied considerably from place to place. This book offers a discussion of the main causes of these changes, and of the methods employed to recognise former shorelines. Present-day sea-level trends are covered along with significant sea-level histories, and examples are used to illustrate these areas. The book concludes by showing how these relative sea-level changes can be used to assess trends of tectonic movements, recognise and date seismic displacements, infer climatic changes, and improve geophysical models of the earth s interior.
224 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 1996
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July 26, 2011
"In the opinion of the author, the most realistic range of recent global sea-level rise may be even be restricted to 0.9 +/- 0.3 mm/yr. It is interesting to note that nobody has claimed that the gloabl sea leavel has been falling the last 100 years, and no evidence can yet be found for mean sea-level rise accelerations." p173.
Pirazzoli's book is of course so much more than an update (or perhaps will be considered a retrospective since it was published in 1996). Beginning with a 'graduate level' description of the means for determining past sea-level changes, he then describes the general trends for sea-level change after the melting of Pleistocene ice c. 20ka. Although the evidence is undoubtable, the variation in data from place to place surprised me.
From ancient to modern changes and some of the reasons behind it are also documented, culminating in a conclusion that there is much we don't (didn't) know. Perhaps the satellite measurements made since then (the high rise-rates at the time were only based on 2-3 yrs data) may have firmed up some of the forward trends. The information given in this book, however, outlines the scientific hurdles that need to be jumped before confident conclusions can be reached about our future.
Pirazzoli's book is of course so much more than an update (or perhaps will be considered a retrospective since it was published in 1996). Beginning with a 'graduate level' description of the means for determining past sea-level changes, he then describes the general trends for sea-level change after the melting of Pleistocene ice c. 20ka. Although the evidence is undoubtable, the variation in data from place to place surprised me.
From ancient to modern changes and some of the reasons behind it are also documented, culminating in a conclusion that there is much we don't (didn't) know. Perhaps the satellite measurements made since then (the high rise-rates at the time were only based on 2-3 yrs data) may have firmed up some of the forward trends. The information given in this book, however, outlines the scientific hurdles that need to be jumped before confident conclusions can be reached about our future.
Displaying 1 of 1 review