Trend and Acceleration: A Multi-model Approach to Key West Sea Level Rise

Authors

John TenenholtzFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Statistics

First Advisor's Name

Sneh Gulati

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

B.M. Golam Kibria

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Robert Burgman

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Sea level rise, Key West, Time series, Acceleration, Trend, Regression

Date of Defense

11-14-2017

Abstract

Sea level rise (SLR) varies depending on location. It is therefore important to local residents, businesses and government to analyze SLR locally. Further, because of increasing ice melt and other effects of climate change, rates of SLR may change. It is therefore also important to evaluate rates of change of SLR, which we call sea level acceleration (SLA) or deceleration.

The present thesis will review the annual average sea level data compiled at the Key West tidal gauge in Key West, Florida. We use a multi-model approach that compares the results of various models on that data set. The goal is to determine if there is a consistent result that can be ascertained from the various models.

Generally, all the models reveal a clear upward trend of SLR. Further, the models provide evidence that the trend has increased over the last 8-10 years, i.e., that there is SLA.

Identifier

FIDC004007

Comments

Submission of final document.

Recommended Citation

Tenenholtz, John, "Trend and Acceleration: A Multi-model Approach to Key West Sea Level Rise" (2017). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3552.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3552