Sea level

Sea level is influenced on a global scale by numerous factors, including: volume change of a water mass at changing temperatures; exchange of water mass with (melting) ice caps and glaciers on land; changing storage of water on land (both surface water and groundwater). An increase in temperature (e.g. under the influence of greenhouse gas emissions of human origin) may result in seawater expansion and ice sheet melting, leading to an increase in sea level and increased flood risk in lower areas. Depletion of groundwater resources (due to rising temperatures) also contributes to sea level rise, as pumped and used groundwater eventually flows largely to the sea.