Climate Change skeptics? [ot]

It's all about moving the conversation forward.

I'd ask EdwardT what he thinks a 90% Confidence Interval is, but he'd probably just ask a snarky question back...

This figure compares the Hallam et al. (1983) and Exxon eustatic (global) sea level reconstructions for the Phanerozoic eon. The Exxon curve [1] is a composite from several reconstructions published by the Exxon corporation (Haq et al. 1987, Ross & Ross 1987, Ross & Ross 1988). Both curves are adjusted to the 2004 ICS geologic timescale.

Hallam et al. and Exxon use very different techniques to measuring global sea level changes. Hallam's approach is qualitative and relies on regional scale observations from exposed geologic sections and estimates of the areas of flooded continental interiors. Exxon's approach relies on the interpretation of seismic profiles to determine the extent of coastal onlap in subsequently buried sedimentary basins. Hallam is insensitive to rapid fluctuations in sea level. Exxon is sensitive to rapid fluctuations but tends to overinterpret local geologic changes resulting in bias towards reporting unphysical rapid fluctuations.

The depth scale is as reported by Exxon. Because Hallam is reported as qualtitative (i.e. uncalibrated), these sea level changes were scaled to match the Exxon record during the period 0-250 Myr.

Current sea level rise is about 3 mm/year worldwide. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), "this is a significantly larger rate than the sea-level rise averaged over the last several thousand years", and the rate may be increasing.[2] Sea level rises can considerably influence human populations in coastal and island regions[3] and natural environments like marine ecosystems.[4]

Between 1870 and 2004, global average sea levels rose a total of 195 mm (7.7 in), and 1.46 mm (0.057 in) per year.[5] From 1950 to 2009, measurements show an average annual rise in sea level of 1.7 ± 0.3 mm per year, with satellite data showing a rise of 3.3 ± 0.4 mm per year from 1993 to 2009,[6] The reason for recent increase is unclear, perhaps owing to decadal variation.[7] It is unclear whether the increased rate reflects an increase in the underlying long-term trend.[8]

There are two main mechanisms that contribute to observed sea level rise:[9] (1) thermal expansion: ocean water expands as it warms;[10] and (2) the melting of major stores of land ice like ice sheets and glaciers.

Sea level rises can considerably influence human populations in coastal and island regions[3] and natural environments like marine ecosystems.