During a 10-year period, the program will address the following imperatives, which will be approached in five parallel, but interconnected, working groups:

  1. An integrated approach to historic sea level estimates (paleo time scale)
  2. Quantifying the contribution of land ice to near-future sea level rise
  3. Contemporary regional sea level variability and change
  4. Predictability of regional sea level
  5. Sea level science for coastal zone management
  6. Global sea level change

Together, the different groups provide an assessment of the state of affairs of sea level research every 2 years, which is used to make adjustments to the overall science plan and recommendations for international sea level research efforts.