How Does Plate Tectonics Affect Sea Level

when rates of volcanism are low, rocks tend to cool faster and sea levels drop as subsidence occurs. conversely, when rates of volcanism are high, it takes longer for the rocks to cool, and sea level remains higher for longer periods of time after the rate of volcanism subsides.

How does seafloor spreading affect sea level?

The increased rate of seafloor spreading caused sea level to rise. Increasing the rate of seafloor spreading inflates the ridge. Hot, young lithosphere is forming and moving away from the ridge at a faster rate and moves a greater distance from the ridge before it cools and contracts. … So sea level rises.

How do earthquakes affect sea level?

We have found that great earthquakes have the overall tendency to produce a sealevel rise, and that they affect the measurements taken at those tide-gauge sites that are commonly employed to obtain global estimates of sealevel rise.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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