Large-scale sea level variability can improve coastal sea level projections flood risk assessment.

What is it about?

Changes in the Atlantic Meridional Circulation control the redistribution of heat in the ocean and cause large-scale warming and cooling, with the associated sea level increase and decrease, respectively. Specifically, when the subtropical North Atlantic warms and its sea level increases, the subpolar North Atlantic and the tropics cool and their sea levels decrease, and vice versa. This natural variability pattern is known as the North Atlantic sea surface height tripole.

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Why is it important?

The study demonstrates the importance of accounting for natural, large-scale sea level variability to improve coastal sea level projections and to better assess coastal flood risks.