sea level

American  

noun

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

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sea level British  

noun

1. 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

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sea level Scientific  

1. 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.

2. ◆ 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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Etymology

Origin of sea level

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

At the same time sea level rise around the UK is also accelerating, due to warmer, expanding oceans and melting glaciers.

From BBC

He preferred the intensity of training at sea level.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its location and rising sea levels means that the town faces regular severe flooding, with Gwynedd council deciding it will stop maintaining flood defences by the 2050s.

From BBC

The research team plans to further refine the model by adding more atmospheric and oceanic factors, including air temperature and sea level pressure.

From Science Daily

It’s a 320-mile drive from Los Angeles to June Lake, which is about 7,500 feet above sea level.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• water level