Environmental Sciences Proceedings (Feb 2024)

Impact of Global Warming on Water Height Using XGBOOST and MLP Algorithms

  • Nilufar Makky,
  • Khalil Valizadeh Kamran,
  • Sadra Karimzadeh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ECRS2023-16864
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 1
p. 83

Abstract

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Over the past few years, the effects of global warming have become more pronounced, particularly with the melting of the polar ice caps. This has led to an increase in sea levels, which poses a threat of flooding to coastal cities and islands. Furthermore, monitoring and analyzing changes in water levels has proven effective for predicting natural disasters caused by the rising sea levels. One vital factor in understanding the impact of global warming is the sea surface height (SSH). Measuring the SSH can provide valuable information about changes in ocean levels. This study used data from the Jason 2 altimetry radar satellite, which provided 36 cycle periods per year, to investigate the water heights around the Hawaiian Islands in 2019. To accurately evaluate the water height variations, a specific area near the Pacific Ocean close to the Hawaiian Islands was selected. By analyzing the collected satellite data, a chart of water heights was generated, which showed an overall increase in the height over one year. This analysis provided evidence of changing ocean levels in the region, highlighting the urgency of addressing the potential threats faced by coastal communities. This study also explored several factors that contribute to water height variations, such as the sea surface temperature, precipitation, and sea surface pressure in the Google Earth Engine cloud-based platform. Algorithms, including MLP and XGBOOST, were used to model the water height within the specified range. The results showed that the XGBOOST algorithm was superior in accurately predicting the water height, with an impressive R-squared value of 0.95. In comparison, the MLP algorithm achieved an R-squared value of 0.92. This study shows that advanced machine learning techniques are effective in understanding and modeling the complex changes in the water height due to climate change. This information can help policymakers and local authorities make informed decisions and create strategies to protect coastal cities and islands from the growing threats of rising sea levels. Taking proactive measures is crucial in reducing the risks posed by more frequent and severe natural disasters caused by global warming.

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