Rise and fall of sea level in Nauru area over a nodal cycle

Abstract

The sea level rise issue is one of the major topics that have gained global attention. In particular, its impacts on many Pacific island countries have been more prevalent over the last two decades. The tiny island of Nauru, once a wealthy nation, is no exception to the effect of climate change. With its highest point ~61 m above sea level, and the threat of sea level rise evident, Nauru is under pressure to save itself from sea level rise problem. Sea level data from the AusAID funded South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project will be focussed on despite the fact that the length of data is not sufficiently long. The project was set up in response to concerns raised by Pacific island countries over the potential impacts of an enhanced greenhouse effect on climate and sea levels in the South Pacific for 20 years initially. Based upon 17 years of sea level data from the project, the sea level rise rate in Nauru as at July 2010 was 4.4 mm yr^–1. This is at least 2–3 times higher than the global average of 1–2 mm yr^–1. Sea level in the Nauru area has risen approximately 7.5 cm since the inception of the project 17 years ago (July 1993). Although there is no significant impact on the sea level trends, it is to be noted that the land is quite stable and the rate of land rising is 0.01 mm yr^–1. Although the data length is for the last 17 years, the sea level trend values do not fluctuate significantly since 2002. It simply indicates that the rate of sea level rise in the Nauru region is not accelerating as anticipated by the community.