Technical Comment on the DOE CWG report, Chapter 7: Changes in Sea Level

Abstract

Chapter 7 of the DOE CWG report addresses the topic of changes in sea level. As the chapter correctly notes, global-mean sea level (GMSL) has risen by about 8 inches since 1900, and this rise is “unambiguously associated with increasing temperatures” (p. 75). The chapter omits three critical assessments, discussed below:

• It conducts no systematic, statistical analysis to support its claim that there is “no obvious acceleration” of sea-level rise, either at individual tide gauges in the United States or in aggregate across U.S. tide gauges.
• It conducts no analysis to support its claim that sea level is rising at a lower rate than projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6).
• It contains no discussion of the current or future impacts of sea-level rise on the United States.

It also contains numerous statements that are not supported by a balanced assessment of the scientific literature, utilizes cherry picked data, and has pervasive issues with inadequate citation practices.

Citation

@incollection{koppTechnicalCommentDOE2025,
  title = {Technical {{Comment}} on the {{DOE CWG}} Report, {{Chapter}} 7: {{Changes}} in {{Sea Level}}},
  booktitle = {Climate {{Experts}}' {{Review}} of the {{DOE Climate Working Group Report}}},
  author = {Kopp, Robert E and Bassis, Jeremy and Boesch, Don and Garner, Andra and Sadai, Shaina and Srikrishnan, Vivek and Stearns, Leigh and Hill, Tessa M},
  year = 2025,
  month = sep,
  pages = {247--267},
  doi = {10.22541/essoar.175745244.41950365/v2}
}