James O'Brien (oceanographer)

James J. O'Brien (born August 10, 1935, died September 20, 2016) was an emeritus Robert O. Lawton Professor of Meteorology and Oceanography at Florida State University. He believed sea levels were rising but predicted a more modest 18 in rise instead of 6 ft by 2100 targeted by some other scientists. He stated that "sea level in Florida is going to continue to rise period. Unless we go back into an Ice age, we will continue to rise at over 8 in in 10 year. That's without any global warming."

O'Brien got his bachelor's degree from Rutgers University before obtaining his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.

He was a fellow of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters from 2000.