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{{Definition|title=Relative sea level
|definition= Relative sea level is the sea level related to the level of the continental crust. Relative sea level changes can thus be caused by absolute changes of the sea level and/or by absolute movements of the continental crust <ref>d’Angremond K., Pluim-Van der Velden E.T.J.M. (2001) Introduction to coastal engineering. P.18-19.</ref>. 
}}

==Causes of relative sea level changes==
Relative sea level change due to absolute changes of the sea level:
* Melting/freezing of the icecaps due to global temperature change;
* Expansion/contraction of the total water mass due to global temperature change.
Relative sea level change due to absolute changes of the continental crust:
* Unloading of the continental crust due to melting of the ice caps causes a rise of the formerly covered areas and a sink of adjacent areas that were not covered;
* Tectonic activity;
* Regional subsidence due to compaction and drainage.

==Response of the coastal system to sea level changes==
The response of the coast to sea level changes can be classified as a [[regressive coast]], [[transgressive coast]], [[prograding coast]] and [[retrograding coast]].

==See Also==
* [[Sea level rise]]
* [[Sea level rise, extreme weather events and erosion]]
* [[Potential Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Mangroves]]
* [[Greek case studies: The implications of the expected sea level rise on the low lying areas of continental Greece in the next century]]

==References==
<references/>

{{author
|AuthorID=274
|AuthorName= Anna
|AuthorFullName= Anna Kroon}}

[[Category:Theme 8]]
[[Category:Protection of coastal and marine zones]]

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|AuthorFullName= Jackgeerlings
|AuthorName=Jack Geerlings}}