Numerical Models for Monitoring and Forecasting Sea Level: a short description of present status

Abstract. Forecasting the sea level is crucial for supporting coastal management through early warning systems and for adopting adaptation strategies to climate changes impacts. Such objectives can be achieved by using advanced numerical models that are based on shallow water equations used to simulate storm surge generation and propagation due to atmospheric pressure and winds, or with ocean general circulation, baroclinic models. We provide here an overview on models commonly used for sea level forecasting, that can be based on storm surge models or ocean circulation ones, integrated on structured or unstructured grids, including an outlook on new approaches based on ensemble methods.