Is the Red Sea Sea-Level Rising at a Faster Rate than the Global Average? An Analysis Based on Satellite Altimetry Data

Abstract

Satellite altimetry sea-level data was taken for nearly three decades (1993–2020) and is used to understand the variability and associated dynamics in the Red Sea sea-level. Seasonally, the sea-level is higher during December–January and lower during August, with a consistent pattern from south to north. The interannual fluctuations in sea-level have a close agreement with the variability in the global climate modes, i.e., El-Nino Southern Oscillation events, East Atlantic-West Russian oscillation, and the Indian Ocean Dipole. The impact of the El-Nino Southern Oscillation mode on sea-level is higher than other climate modes. The Red Sea sea-level was seen to rise at a rate of 3.88 mm/year from 1993–present, which was consistent with the global rate of 3.3 ± 0.5 mm/year. However, a noticeably faster rate of 6.40 mm/year was observed in the Red Sea sea-level from 2000-present.