Relative sea level
Have you ever stood on the beach and watched the waves crash against the shore? The place where the waves meet the sand is called the shoreline. When we talk about the sea level, we're talking about the height of the water at the shoreline.
Now, imagine if the water level of the sea changed. This could happen if the amount of water in the ocean changed or if the land shifted up or down. If the water level goes up, it's called a "rise," and if it goes down, it's called a "fall."
When we talk about "relative" sea level, we're talking about how high or low the water level is compared to the land around it. This is because the land can also move up or down. For example, if the land rises up, the sea level might look like it's going down even if the actual amount of water in the ocean stays the same.
So, when we talk about relative sea level, we're comparing the height of the water at the shoreline to the height of the land right next to it. It's like seeing how tall you are compared to your friend - you have to stand right next to them to see who's taller!
Now, imagine if the water level of the sea changed. This could happen if the amount of water in the ocean changed or if the land shifted up or down. If the water level goes up, it's called a "rise," and if it goes down, it's called a "fall."
When we talk about "relative" sea level, we're talking about how high or low the water level is compared to the land around it. This is because the land can also move up or down. For example, if the land rises up, the sea level might look like it's going down even if the actual amount of water in the ocean stays the same.
So, when we talk about relative sea level, we're comparing the height of the water at the shoreline to the height of the land right next to it. It's like seeing how tall you are compared to your friend - you have to stand right next to them to see who's taller!