When Teachers say below sea level what do they mean?!?

Question

Like this town is below sea level. How can somewhere be below the sea, if they're living on land. Can someone clarify that for me. Please and thank you!!

Answer 1

Sea level is the level of water in the Ocean. Below sea level is any level that is lower than the level of the sea. Think of a glass of water sitting on a shelf above your head. You are below the level of the water but you are not wet because the glass is holding back the water.

Answer 2

"Below sea level" is somewhat of a paradox statement.

If you look at the Grand Canyon (Check photo)
http://photos.travisswicegood.com/d/3382-2/grand-canyon-explorer.jpg
...you notice that there are rings on the mountain peaks. It looks as though the sea water caused erosion on the side of the rocks. Through time, the Earth expanded, the water receded, and there was no longer sea. That's how scientists got the term "below sea level".

Now the teacher said that "so and so town was below sea level". In earlier times that town was the sea and the waters receded so there is just town. If you think about it, San Francisco, California is below sea level, because the Pacific Ocean receded. As the Earth expands, some parts of land will have more water than others. "Below sea level" is a term used to describe a stretch of land that used to be under a large mass of water.

I hope this answers your question.

Answer 3

It just means the overall elevation of the town (how high or low on the ground it is) is less than that of the ocean. For instance, Death Valley in California is below sea level, but is not under water. Hope that helps!

Answer 4

There is a difference between under the sea and below sea level. New Orleans was below sea level, much of Netherlands is below sea level Death Valley is below sea level. Those places have wall, dikes or mountains be tween them and the ocean, but the top of the ocean is higher than the ground level of those areas.

Answer 5

Meaning that the depth of elevation is lower than sea level. Just look at New Orleans. It's the city below sea level. That's why it was under water for Months.and the levies and dams burst flooding the city.

Answer 6

Yes - things can be below sea level - what it means is that the higher land protects this very low areas from being flooded by the sea so they exist below sea level. For a list of well known places undersea level see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_on_land_with_elevations_below_sea_level

Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

The land is below sea level -- not meaning underwater, but inland and below sea-level (like a canyon or low-lying marsh). A lot of Louisiana and Florida are below sea level.

Answer 8

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Sea level is the level of water in the Ocean. Below sea level is any level that is lower than the level of the sea. Think of a glass of water sitting on a shelf above your head. You are below the level of the water but you are not wet because the glass is holding back the water.are you blonde
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Anthony S
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The land is below sea level -- not meaning underwater, but inland and below sea-level (like a canyon or low-lying marsh). A lot of Louisiana and Florida are below sea level.
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Pinky
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you cant live below sea level.
or you cant have a town..unless you are a fish
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khg831
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It just means the overall elevation of the town (how high or low on the ground it is) is less than that of the ocean. For instance, Death Valley in California is below sea level, but is not under water. Hope that helps!
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MikeInRI
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Yes - things can be below sea level - what it means is that the higher land protects this very low areas from being flooded by the sea so they exist below sea level. For a list of well known places undersea level see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_pla

Answer 9

let make it simple. press a bowl into water but try not to let water into the bowl. the base of the bowl is consider as below water level. back to ur question. land = base of the bowl and water level = sea level. hope that help.

Answer 10

you cant live below sea level.
or you cant have a town..unless you are a fish