| Title | Sea level variations along the U.S. Pacific Northwest Coast: tectonic and climate controls |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2011 |
| Authors | Komar, Paul D., Jonathan Allan, and Peter Ruggiero |
| Secondary Title | Journal of Coastal Research |
| Volume | 27 |
| Number | 5 |
| Pagination | p.808-823 |
| Call Number | OSU Libraries: Electronic Subscription |
| Keywords | coastal hazards, Coos Bay, El Nino, erosion, sea level, Yaquina Bay |
| Notes | "Analyses of the progressive multidecadal trends and climate-controlled annual variations in mean sea levels are presented for nine tide-gauge stations along the coast of the U.S. Pacific Northwest: Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. The trends in relative sea levels are strongly affected by the tectonics of this region..." The two Oregon sites are Yaquina and Coos bays. Tectonic processes such as subsidence and uplift can affect trends in relative sea levels. In the Yaquina Bay area, the land is slowly sinking, and the area has seen more sea level rise than an area such as Neah Bay, where the land is rising. Significant climate events such as El Nino are noted. This work has shown a trend for progressively higher wave heights in large storms, and the size of the largest waves is increasing at the highest rate, which has significant implications for coastal erosion. |
| DOI | 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-10-000116.1 |
