Title: Tracking sea level rise ... and fall | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Headings: Tracking sea level rise ... and fall
Tracking sea level rise ... and fall
What is sea level?
Is sea level changing?
How do we measure sea level?
The majority of scientists agree that global sea level change is directly related to a changing climate.

Content: Warming waters = melting ice
How do we measure sea level? How can sea level changes affect me? Oceans & Coasts
sea level rise
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Sea level is a measure of the average height of the surface of the sea. Like land, the surface of the ocean is not flat or uniform. But unlike land – for the most part – it can change in short order. The surface of our world’s ocean is a mosaic of peaks and valleys, hills and plains, resulting from the force of gravity, the Earth’s rotation and irregular features on the ocean floor. Other forces can raise or lower the water level too, such as temperature, wind, ocean currents, tides and movement of the land itself. The Gulf of Mexico experiences the highest sea level rise rates in the U.S. To help understand how such changes in water levels may impact coastal communities, and help keep maritime commerce safe and efficient, NOAA established a sentinel site program, such as this site in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NOAA)
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There are several terms used to describe sea level: Global sea level is the average height of the ocean around the world. Local sea level is the height of the water measured along the coast relative to a specific point on land.