The thermal expansion of sea water associated with global warming

T. M. L. Wigley; S. C. B. Raper

doi:10.1038/330127a0

The thermal expansion of sea water associated with global warming

T. M. L. Wigley
, S. C. B. Raper

Climatic Research Unit

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

184 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The relationship between greenhouse-gas forcing, global mean temperature change and sea-level rise due to thermal expansion of the oceans is investigated using upwelling–diffusion and pure diffusion models. The sensitivities of sea-level to short-timescale forcing and deep-water formation rate changes are examined. The greenhouse-gas-induced thermal expansion contribution to sea-level rise between 1880 and 1985 is estimated at 2–5 cm. Projections are made to the year 2025 for different forcing scenarios. For the period 1985–2025 the estimate of greenhouse-gas-induced warming is 0.6–1.0 °C. The concomitant oceanic thermal expansion would raise sea level by 4–8 cm.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	127-131
Number of pages	5
Journal	Nature
Volume	330
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/330127a0
Publication status	Published - 1987

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10.1038/330127a0

Cite this

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title = "The thermal expansion of sea water associated with global warming",

abstract = "The relationship between greenhouse-gas forcing, global mean temperature change and sea-level rise due to thermal expansion of the oceans is investigated using upwelling–diffusion and pure diffusion models. The sensitivities of sea-level to short-timescale forcing and deep-water formation rate changes are examined. The greenhouse-gas-induced thermal expansion contribution to sea-level rise between 1880 and 1985 is estimated at 2–5 cm. Projections are made to the year 2025 for different forcing scenarios. For the period 1985–2025 the estimate of greenhouse-gas-induced warming is 0.6–1.0 °C. The concomitant oceanic thermal expansion would raise sea level by 4–8 cm.",

author = "Wigley, \{T. M. L.\} and Raper, \{S. C. B.\}",

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AU - Raper, S. C. B.

PY - 1987

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AB - The relationship between greenhouse-gas forcing, global mean temperature change and sea-level rise due to thermal expansion of the oceans is investigated using upwelling–diffusion and pure diffusion models. The sensitivities of sea-level to short-timescale forcing and deep-water formation rate changes are examined. The greenhouse-gas-induced thermal expansion contribution to sea-level rise between 1880 and 1985 is estimated at 2–5 cm. Projections are made to the year 2025 for different forcing scenarios. For the period 1985–2025 the estimate of greenhouse-gas-induced warming is 0.6–1.0 °C. The concomitant oceanic thermal expansion would raise sea level by 4–8 cm.

U2 - 10.1038/330127a0

DO - 10.1038/330127a0

M3 - Article

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