[1] We identified 37 tide gauges; each located within 40 km of a geodetic station whose International Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2000 (ITRF2000) crustal velocity had been rigorously derived from continuous global positioning system (GPS) observations, spanning from 3 to 11 years. The tide gauges are located along the coasts of North America, Bermuda, Hawaii, and Kwajalein (in the Marshall Islands). We obtained the ITRF2000 crustal velocities by averaging values from six solutions; each produced by a team of investigators acting, essentially, independently of the other teams. We then applied crustal velocities to convert rates of relative sea level change to rates of absolute sea level change. In a sample containing 30 sites, we found that the mean rate of absolute sea level change equals 1.80 ± 0.18 mm/yr in the 1900-1999 period. The scatter about the mean for individual sites in this sample is characterized by a (weighted) RMS value of 0.85 mm/yr. This scatter primarily reflects the uncertainty associated with derived crustal velocities. The remaining seven sites, i.e., five sites on the Pacific coast of Alaska, one on Dauphin Island (Alabama), and one on Kwajalein (an atoll in the Pacific Ocean), experienced relatively low rates of absolute sea level change. We hypothesize the low rates in Alaska are caused by ongoing melting of mountain glaciers and ice masses near the stations, while the low rates found for Dauphin Island and Kwajalein remain unexplained.Citation: Snay, R., M. Cline, W. Dillinger, R. Foote, S. Hilla, W. Kass, J. Ray, J. Rohde, G. Sella, and T. Soler (2007), Using global positioning system-derived crustal velocities to estimate rates of absolute sea level change from North American tide gauge records,

Rotational flexographic printing is a promising high-throughput technology for the front side metallization of silicon solar cells. Very low silver consumption and the possibility to realize narrow contact fingers make this technology particularly interesting for multi-busbar solar cells. Within this work, fundamental printing tests have been carried out on a flexographic roll-to-flat machine using an experimental anilox roll and elastomeric laser-engraved printing plates. A double printing process with intermediate drying step has been applied. Contact fingers down to 33 μm in width and up to 8 μm in height have been realized using this technology. Lateral resistances in the range 500 to 1500 Ω/m have been determined by four point measurement method. These results underline the capability of flexographic printing for fine line metallization of multi-busbar solar cells.

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