Researchers propose a new more accurate method instead.
The sea floor is sinking.
This idea played a pivotal role in the development of the theory of plate tectonics which revolutionized geologic thought during the last quarter of the 20th century.
A sinking floor is usually a sign that the floor has begun to rot out from the underside meaning the joists or other elements of the subfloor have failed.
This map shows gravity anomalies in the western indian ocean.
The results show that the ocean is changing in ways we didn t realize and is sinking further into the earth s crust.
This can disguise the actual rise of sea levels in many parts of the planet and actually cover up.
As a result scientists have underestimated how much sea levels are rising by.
If the sea floor is sinking are we safe from sea level rise.
Satellite data enables scientists to map the seafloor which is sinking under the weight of rising seas.
This theory proposes that the plates are dragged apart by the sinking of cold dense slabs of sea floor along zones of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones and spreads out laterally away from them.
The first study to calculate how much the ocean floor is sinking due to the extra weight of meltwater going into the sea has been.