When we say the surface of the ocean is not flat, we are not talking about waves or the curve of the Earth. The surface of the ocean is not flat per se!
If there are flat oceanists like Flat Earthers, you may get a little angry, but if you are ready, we will explain why the ocean waters are not flat.
First, let’s look at what global sea level rise means.
You’ve probably heard the term “global sea level” before, which refers to the average elevation of all ocean basins on Earth.
There’s even a map like the one above that shows projections for sea level rise. “Global sea level rise” refers to the increase in the average global sea level trend.
The ocean is not flat as we thought.
Most of the time, when we look at a large body of water, we see it as flat, like water in a bathtub. It could probably be a single rise wave. However, even if there are no waves, the oceans are not as flat as a sheet.
On the contrary, there are hills, just like on land. The only difference from those on land is that they are smaller, with a maximum length of 2 meters. In the image above, we can see these height differences in the color scale.
The biggest factor shaping the ocean is gravity.
Changes in Earth’s gravity make it irregular and ever-changing. As mass is redistributed across the Earth’s surface (e.g. melting glaciers), the gravitational field also changes, affecting the height of the ocean and sea surface.
For example, if there is a tiny hole at the bottom of the ocean, this can create a tiny slope on the water. Likewise, if there is a small hill at the bottom, this can also affect the shape of the water surface.
So, does having these elevations change anything?
These small rises and depressions on the ocean surface; It can affect many factors, such as the temperature of the water, the amount of salt it contains, the pressure of the atmosphere on the ocean surface, and ocean currents.
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