Relative sea level
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Revision as of 15:47, 12 January 2013 by Dronkers J (talk | contribs)
Definition of Relative sea level:
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 [1].
This is the common definition for Relative sea level, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Contents
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
- 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
- ↑ d’Angremond K., Pluim-Van der Velden E.T.J.M. (2001) Introduction to coastal engineering. P.18-19.
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