Meridional Asymmetry in Recent Decadal Sea‐Level Trends in the Subtropical Pacific Ocean

Recent sea surface height (SSH) trends in the South Pacific are substantially greater than North Pacific. Here, we use Estimating Climate and Circulation of Ocean Version 4 Release ocean state estimate Reanalysis System 5 to identify forcing mechanisms underlying that meridional asymmetry during 2005–2015. Thermosteric contributions dominate spatial structure SSH trends, but from local heat fluxes small. Wind stress drive a spin-up subtropical gyre northward shift gyre. A reduced gravity model forced with reanalysis winds qualitatively reproduces seesaw level, suggesting asymmetric wind cross-equatorial transport. reversal associated this process could impact near-term rates coastal sea-level change, particularly Island communities.