Spatial and seasonal variations of sea level in the Red Sea, 1958–2001

The present study investigated the variability of monthly mean sea level data and discussed its relation with climatic events in the Red Sea during 1958–2001. The data were obtained from Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA), for three different locations (north, central and south) in the Red Sea. Spatial and temporal variability as well as trends and periodicity of sea level time series records in the three locations was investigated using One-way ANOVA test, weighted running mean filter and autocorrelation spectral analysis. Results revealed that mean sea level in the northern Red Sea was permanently lower than its central and southern parts. Moreover, the mean sea level during winter and spring in the three locations was significantly higher than summer and autumn seasons. Increasing and decreasing of sea level trends with respect to time were also observed. Inter-decadal variations in sea level including a fairly regular quasi 2.5–2.7 year oscillation in all seasons were detected, although its amplitude varied among different cycles. Studying the cyclicity in the hydroclimatic record can resolve some of the complexities of the hydroclimate system. The sign of Quasi Biennial Oscillation, El Niño Southern Oscillation and sunspots events may have an important influence in sea level variations of the Red Sea.