the second method, the global average is derived by averaging 11 regional sea- 

 level curves, weighing each region equally, and also according to the relative 

 reliability of the regional data. This latter step is designed to reduce the 

 influence of regions with few stations or poor data. 



The "corrected" average eustatic sea- level rise for both methods is 1.2 

 +0.3 and 1.0 + 0.1 mm/year, respectively. Weighing for regional reliability 

 does not alter the global average significantly. The results agree with those 

 of previous studies and provide an independent verification for a global 

 increase in sea- level during the past century. The closeness in values 

 between the two averaging methods used here and those of earlier studies 

 suggests that the observed change represents a true eustatic sea- level rise in 

 spite of noisy data, geographic bias, and differences in approach and 

 techniques . 



Sea-level, corrected for long-term movements, is found to be rising in 

 all but three regions, which have small station populations, sparse long-range 

 data or are tectonically active. Along the east coast of North America, an 

 apparent maximum sea-level rise is observed in both tide-gage and late 

 Holocene sea- level indicators between Chesapeake Bay and New Jersey (36° 

 -40° N) . This enhanced mid-Atlantic subsidence, possible indicating 

 neotectonic activity or sediment loading, has persisted for at least the last 

 7,000 years. Subsidence of northern New England-Maritime Canada (44°-46° N) 

 may be caused by a migrating crest of the peripheral forebulge at the edge of 

 formerly glaciated areas. Sea- level changes in western North America show 

 greater spatial variations than for the east coast, which can be related to 

 more active tectonism in California and British Columbia and to strong, 

 localized isostatic rebound in Alaska. 



Most of the recent sea- level rise can be accounted for in terms of the 

 thermal expansion of the upper layers of the ocean and by melting of alpine 

 glaciers. (Authors). 



115 GORNITZ, v., LEBEDEFF, S., and HANSEN, J. 1982. "Global Sea-Level 



Trend in the Past Century," Science . Vol 215, pp 1611-1614. 



Data derived from tide -gaging stations throughout the world indicate 

 that the mean sea- level rose by about 12 centimeters in the past century. The 

 sea- level change has a high correlation with the trend of global surface air 

 temperature. A large part of the sea- level rise can be accounted for in terms 

 of the thermal expansion of the upper layers of the ocean. The results also 

 represent weak indirect evidence for a net melting of the continental ice 

 sheets. (Authors). 



116 COY, J. L. , and ZAZO, C. 1988. Palaeogeography . Palaeoclimatologv. 



Palaeoecology . Vol 68, No. 2-4, pp 301-310. 



Detailed mapping of the coastal areas of the Basin of Elche revealed 

 complex successions of marine Quaternary terraces attached to the tectonically 

 generated, positive reliefs of Santa Pola, Los Arenales del Sol and La Marina. 

 Structural data and lateral facies relationships suggest active tectonics in 

 this area since early Pleistocene times, with E-W trending anticlinal folding 



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