The eustatic sea level (from Greek εὖ eû, "good" and στάσις stásis, "standing") is the distance from the center of Earth to the sea surface.
- Changes in the size of the ocean basin, for instance, by tectonic seafloor spreading or by sedimentation. These slow processes can cause the total volume of the oceanic basin to change.
- Density changes of the water, for instance, by thermal expansion. Warming will cause water to experience greater molecular motion, thus increasing the volume a molecule will occupy. Expansion of water may also be caused by changes in ocean salinity.
See also
- Sea level rise
- Ocean