UK contributions to the GLOSS sea level network (South Atlantic and Antarctic)

Oceans 2025 Theme 10, GLOSS

The Global Sea Observing System (GLOSS) is coordinated under the auspices of the Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO). GLOSS objectives include the provision of sea level data sets for scientific programmes including those of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). The UK contributes to GLOSS by providing sea level data from the UK itself, via EA/Defra funding to the National Tidal and Sea Level Facility (NTSLF) at POL/BODC, and from British Dependent Territories and Antarctic bases, most of which are in the South Atlantic area.

A general aim is to make a major UK contribution to the construction of the global sea level network (GLOSS) which will be as effective as intended only when all ocean regions are adequately equipped with sea level recorders. Data sets from the network already serve a large number of local practical applications (harbour operations, flood warning, coastal engineering) as well enabling scientific research across a range of space and time scales from the short (tides, surges and tsunami) to the long (seasonal, interannual and secular mean sea level change). However, there remain many gaps in data flow, some of which are the UK’s responsibility to fill. Our more specific aim is to take advantage of the UK-owned sites to provide scientific-quality data sets (some in near-real time) which can be employed in operational oceanography of regional or global importance and in oceanographic and climate research. A lesser, more practical aim is to provide relevant sea level data sets and products to the British Dependent Territories of the South Atlantic for local applications (e.g. tide tables, wave and surge statistics, engineering extremes etc.), especially in areas of economic importance (notably the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar).

Team

Simon Holgate
Philip Woodworth