Sea level change from Topex-Poseidon altimetry for 1993-999 and possible warming of the southern oceans

In this study we investigate the contribution of individual oceanic regions to the global mean sea level change (mean trend and interannual variations ) observed by the satellite Topex-Poseidon from 1993 through 1999. This all ows us to analyse sea level change in regions not primary influenced by sho rt-term climate fluctuations, in particular the 1997-1998 ENSO event. We re port that the sea level in the southern oceans there defined as the region between 60 degreesS and 30 degreesS) has been rising between January 1993 a nd December 1999 at a rate of 1.0 +/- 0.1 mm/yr and 1.7 +/- 0.1 mm/yr betwe en December 1994 and April 1999. This rise is positively correlated with an increase of sea surface temperature and thus could reflect a warming of th e southern oceans waters.