Eustatic = Changes in volume of water in global ocean store.
Isostatic = Changes in land-level.
Physical factors include variations in earth’s orbit around the sun (400,000yrs), variations in
solar energy (ll yrs), atmospheric composition due to volcanic eruptions and tilt of Earth’s
axis.
Sea level fall – Decrease in global temp, more snow, water stored as ice on land. Water
molecules contract (1 degree fall = 2m sea level decrease).
Sea level rise – Increase in global temp, higher rates of ice melting stored on land. Water
molecules expand (1 degree rise = 2m sea level increase).
Tyrrhenian inter-glacial period (130,000 yrs ago), global temps 3 degrees higher and sea
levels 20m higher.
Riss glacial period (108,000 yrs ago), global temps 7 degrees lower and sea levels 100m
lower.
Würm glacial period (25,000 yrs ago), global temps 9 degrees lower and sea levels 90m
lower.
Flandrian Transgression (19,000 yrs ago to current), significant sea level rise.
