eustasy

noun

1. A worldwide change in sea level, especially one caused by melting ice or tectonic activity.

   “The age of the dunal or other deposits, formed on it after the sea had begun to withdraw, in accordance with the theory of glacial eustasy, and which I have named Berardian, is, however, the crucial thing here.”

   “Takai, F., and Tsuchi, R. 1963 The Quaternary: In "Geology of Japan," Univ. Calif. Press: 173–196 / […] From these facts, it is inferred that the main coastal terraces were probably formed due to glacial eustacy.”

   “The range in elevation suggests that the sea level was not constant during the formation of the caves and that the rise of land – perhaps counterbalanced periodically by glacial eustacies – was probably continuous.”

   “Although the origin of these long-term accommodation changes is difficult to assess, we conclude that basin tectonism is responsible for these changes in most of our examples. Long-term eustasy plays a secondary role, according to our analysis.”

   “Glaciation, by oversteepening slopes, and by subsequent isostatic rebound, greatly enhances crevice cave and talus cave formation. Glacial eustasy and isostatic rebound form, and then preserve, sea caves.”