Sea level change in Hong Kong from tide gauge measurements of 1954–1999

Abstract.

 Tide gauge records of Hong Kong covering the past 45 years (1954.0–1999.0) are adopted to analyze the basic features of sea level changes in the region. Data sets of atmospheric pressure, southern oscillation index and sea surface temperature during the same time span are also used to determine the possible link between the sea level changes in Hong Kong and local and global geophysical processes. Results indicate that the sea level of Hong Kong has a rising trend of 1.9 ± 0.4 mm per year, and that there is an upward offset of about 15 cm in the pre-1957.0 tide gauge records. The effect of local atmospheric pressure variations on the amplitude of the annual sea level change is about 30% of the amplitude that is calculated after the effect is corrected. It is also found that the interannual variations in the sea level of Hong Kong are related to El Niño and La Niña events that happen frequently in the tropical Pacific.