Combining ocean model data and historical in-situ Lagrangian data, I show that an array of surface drifting buoys tracked by a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as the GPS-tracked ones of the Global Drifter Program, could provide estimates of global mean sea level (GMSL) and its changes, including linear decadal trends. For a sustained array of 1250 globally distributed buoys with a standardized design, I demonstrate that GMSL decadal linear trend estimates with an uncertainty less than 0.3 mm yr$^{-1}$ could be achieved with GNSS daily random error of a couple meters in the vertical direction. This demonstration of the adequacy of the spatial sampling assumes that geodetic-grade GNSS vertical position measurements can be acquired from an array of drifting buoys, which is yet to be demonstrated. Development and implementation of such measurements could ultimately provide an independent and resilient observational system to infer natural and anthropogenic sea level changes, augmenting the on-going tide gauge and satellites records.

中文翻译：

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用表面漂流浮标测量全球平均海平面变化

结合海洋模型数据和历史原位拉格朗日数据，我表明由全球导航卫星系统 (GNSS) 跟踪的一系列表面漂流浮标，例如全球漂流者计划的 GPS 跟踪浮标，可以提供全球平均海平面 (GMSL) 及其变化，包括线性年代际趋势。对于具有标准化设计的 1250 个全球分布式浮标的持续阵列，我证明了 GMSL 年代际线性趋势估计的不确定性小于 0.3 毫米 yr$^{-1}$ 可以通过几米的 GNSS 每日随机误差实现垂直方向。空间采样充分性的这种证明假设大地级 GNSS 垂直位置测量可以从一系列漂流浮标中获得，但尚未得到证明。