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The 2011 La Niña: So strong, the oceans fell
Author(s) -
Boening Carmen,
Willis Josh K.,
Landerer Felix W.,
Nerem R. Steven,
Fasullo John
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2012gl053055
Subject(s) - sea level , climatology , oceanography , precipitation , sea level rise , environmental science , altimeter , satellite , global change , southeast asia , geology , physical geography , geography , climate change , meteorology , remote sensing , aerospace engineering , engineering , ancient history , history
Global mean sea level (GMSL) dropped by 5 mm between the beginning of 2010 and mid 2011. This drop occurred despite the background rate of rise, 3 mm per year, which dominates most of the 18‐year record observed by satellite altimeters. Using a combination of satellite and in situ data, we show that the decline in ocean mass, which explains the sea level drop, coincides with an equivalent increase in terrestrial water storage, primarily over Australia, northern South America, and Southeast Asia. This temporary shift of water from the ocean to land is closely related to the transition from El Niño conditions in 2009/10 to a strong 2010/11 La Niña, which affected precipitation patterns world‐wide.