# Sea level and GW

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-level-and-gw/507617>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 25, 2009, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-level-and-gw/507617 "2009-08-25T10:14:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-level-and-gw/507617/1 "2009-08-25T10:14:18Z")

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So, in reference to Cecil’s column on [sea level](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/148/what-is-sea-level), one thing he doesn’t mention, probably because it’s from 1980, is how increasing sea levels due to climate change might affect the definition of “sea level”.

Presumably, we’re not about to change the heights of all the mountains in accordance with changes to the real sea level (for one thing, because the change from 1880 is still only about 20cm).  
But does that mean that some places, e.g. some islands in the Maldives, might technically have a positive sea level value, even as they’re submerged?

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**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-level-and-gw/507617/2 "2009-08-25T10:16:17Z")

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Sorry, just noticed this is a dupe thread.

Delete me please…