Global average sea level is rising, but what a particular coastline experiences can be quite different.
Gravity and ice
Large ice sheets pull water towards them; as they melt, that pull weakens and water redistributes.
Currents and heat
Warmer water expands, and ocean currents pile water up in some regions more than others.
Land that sinks
Where land itself is subsiding, the local rise in the sea is larger than the global average.
Series · Part 5 of 5Climate Basics
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