Products

PSMSL data have many applications within

oceanography
climate change studies
geology
geodesy
surveying

The most familiar application is global and regional sea level rise and variability. The PSMSL data set is the main source of information on long term changes in global sea level during the last two centuries. The data have been employed intensively in studies such as those of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, published in 2007, suggests: "... global sea level had risen during the 20th century by 1.8±0.5 mm per year, increasing to over 3.1±0.7 mm per year in the 1990s".

This section provides only a brief overview of PSMSL data coverage and applications. For more detailed information, consult a textbook such as one of those listed in the Training and Information web page.