TY - JOUR
T1 - The 2011 la Nia
T2 - So strong, the oceans fell
AU - Boening, Carmen
AU - Willis, Josh K.
AU - Landerer, Felix W.
AU - Nerem, R. Steven
AU - Fasullo, John
PY - 2012/10/16
Y1 - 2012/10/16
N2 - 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 Nio conditions in 2009/10 to a strong 2010/11 La Nia, which affected precipitation patterns world-wide.
AB - 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 Nio conditions in 2009/10 to a strong 2010/11 La Nia, which affected precipitation patterns world-wide.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84867555696
U2 - 10.1029/2012GL053055
DO - 10.1029/2012GL053055
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84867555696
SN - 0094-8276
VL - 39
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
IS - 19
M1 - L19602
ER -