SEA LEVEL Definition & Meaning

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sea level

noun

the horizontal plane or level corresponding to the surface of the sea at mean level between high and low tide.

sea level

noun

the level of the surface of the sea with respect to the land, taken to be the mean level between high and low tide, and used as a standard base for measuring heights and depths

sea level

The level of the ocean's surface. Sea level at a particular location changes regularly with the tides and irregularly due to conditions such as wind and currents. Other factors that contribute to such fluctuation include water temperature and salinity, air pressure, seasonal changes, the amount of stream runoff, and the amount of water that is stored as ice or snow.
◆ The reference point used as a standard for determining terrestrial and atmospheric elevation or ocean depths is called the mean sea level and is calculated as the average of hourly tide levels measured by mechanical tide gauges over extended periods of time.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of sea level¹

First recorded in 1800–10

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Example Sentences

In rebuilding, Malibu homeowners face the challenge of not just fire danger but also sea level rise.

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For instance, a large tsunami could flood swaths of Marina del Rey, Long Beach and the nearby dual port complex to an elevation of up to 15 feet above sea level.

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Coca grows in semitropical areas at heights of between 200 and 1,500 metres over sea level, and unlike oranges, can be harvested three to six times per year.

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There’s a reason any and all development proposals are exhaustively reviewed, with the perils of sea level rise in mind, and in the interest of protecting marine and shore habitats.

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Afriski is situated 3,222m above sea level, high up in Lesotho's Maloti mountains and attracts visitors from Africa and beyond.

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