Sea Level Change Flashcards
Why do sea levels change?
- Isostatic Change
2. Eustatic Change
Describe Eustatic Change
The amount of water in the oceans sometimes changes. This happens when there is more water stored in on the land as ice and snow which happens when the Earth’s climate is colder. These are called ‘Ice Ages’. At these times the sea level falls.
Describe Isostatic Change
The height of the land compared to the sea level can change. This can happen in an earthquake when land can be forced up or down leading to a change in the sea level. It can also happen in an ice age when the weight of the ice causes the land to sink, it will then rise up again when the ice melts and the weight is released.
What scale is Eustatic Change?
Global Scale
(The amount of water in the oceans sometimes changes on a global scale.
This happens when there is more water stored in on the land as ice and snow which happens when the Earth’s climate is colder. These are called ‘Ice Ages’. The last one in Britain was 12 000 years ago. At these times the sea level falls.)
What scale is Isostatic Change?
Local Scale
(This can happen in an earthquake (tectonic) when land can be forced up or down leading to a change in the sea level.
It can also happen in an ice age when the weight of the ice causes the land to sink, it will then rise up again when the ice melts and the weight is released.)
Example of Raised Beach and Relict Cliff
Isle of Arran in Scotland
Example of Ria
The River Fowey, Cornwall
Example of Fjord
Songe Fjord in Norway
Example of Dalmatian Coast
The Dalmatian Coasts in Croatia
