Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1991
Abstract
Long-term water level changes in the northern Gulf of Mexico were examined using tide gauge records for this century. Strong coherence exists between the annual mean water changes at Galveston, Texas, and (1) the relatively geologically-stable west coast of Florida, (2) global mean sea level, and 93) the subsiding Louisiana coast. Water levels at the Galveston gauge, one of the longest records (81 yr), have risen steadily, but not accelerated over the long-term. The apparent acceleration of water rise in the recent two decades is within the historical pattern, and is probably driven by regional or global, but not local climatic factors. Because eustatic sea level has risen steadily this century, the analysis supports the conclusion that regional geologic subsidence has not varied significantly over the tide gauge record (1909–1988). Variations in the estimates of subsidence in the surface layers are generally consistent with the generally accepted understanding of the geology of deltaic processes on this coast.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Estuaries
First Page
139
Last Page
147
Recommended Citation
Turner, R. (1991). Tide Gauge Records, Water Level Rise, and Subsidence in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Estuaries, 14 (2), 139-147. Retrieved from https://repository.lsu.edu/oceanography_coastal_pubs/155