What is Sea Level?

Published On: November 27, 2013
32 words
Views: 4284

FREE FACT: An oblate spheroid is a special case of an ellipsoid where two of the semi-principal axes are the same size.

About the Author: CLIMATE STATE

chris
CLIMATE STATE covers the broad spectrum of climate change, and the solutions, with the focus on the sciences. Climate State – we endorse data, facts, empirical evidence.
    Subscribe
    Notify of
    107 Comments
    Oldest
    Newest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    sandis550
    sandis550
    November 25, 2013 7:13 PM

    THANK YOU FOR A NON 10 SECOND VIDEO!!!!

    Henry Reich
    Henry Reich
    November 25, 2013 7:20 PM

    When we say Mt. Everest is 8850m tall, how do we know what sea level would
    be beneath the mountain? NEW VIDEO!

    dewinthemorning
    dewinthemorning
    November 25, 2013 7:27 PM

    Wow! I never would have thought how much work has gone into this seemingly
    intuitively simple concept – sea level!

    Scientists of all kinds – the uncelebrated heroes of our civilization, just
    doing their work.

    Marv3Lthe1
    Marv3Lthe1
    November 25, 2013 7:28 PM

    This is amazing and how these videos should be. Imagine a 10 second video
    which only says “Seal level is measured by scientists calculating gravity
    if the mountain is not there. this calculation is programmed into GPS
    satellites”

    zone07
    zone07
    November 25, 2013 7:42 PM

    The only thing that stuck was that Gravity was stronger or weaker at
    different points on the earth. Quick tell me where gravity is weakest so
    that I can take my wife there have her step on a scale and tell her, “See
    honey, you’re not fat!!!”

    Paul Baker
    Paul Baker
    November 25, 2013 8:16 PM

    I don’t think I’ve ever put that much thought into sea level before. My
    mind is kind of blown by this.

    Dr. BEES
    Dr. BEES
    November 25, 2013 10:15 PM

    What if there was an identical version of mount Everest, but made of
    osmium. Since it would have more of a pull on the water wouldn’t that make
    its sea-level higher, and therefor shorter even though its identical.

    Jonathan Stewart
    Jonathan Stewart
    November 25, 2013 10:56 PM

    I remember my father, a physicist, explaining this to me as a kid. He used
    the geodetic model in his job, writing targeting programs for
    intercontinental ballistic missiles.

    TheScholesie09
    TheScholesie09
    November 26, 2013 12:31 AM

    Where do you take it’s base from? Sea level as defined by without gravity?
    Sea level with gravity? The sea floor ( which is so variable it is useless
    to measure against ) or the centre of the earth? (Which has more to do with
    the region then the mountain itself)

    TheScholesie09
    TheScholesie09
    November 26, 2013 12:31 AM

    Well it’s about more of the physics behind sea level, than facts about the
    planet

    Bill Lozano
    Bill Lozano
    November 26, 2013 12:33 AM

    Sea level is not the same everyplace?

    thejuniorinho
    thejuniorinho
    November 26, 2013 2:11 AM

    Isn’t this more minuteearth content? Either way really cool video!

    thejuniorinho
    thejuniorinho
    November 26, 2013 2:11 AM

    Isn’t this more minuteearth content? Either way really cool video!

    Xptechmike nosehairextractorguy
    Xptechmike nosehairextractorguy
    November 26, 2013 3:13 AM

    Pesky continents moving around on the earth’s surface? Everything was
    pretty awesome, up to that little error. Continents don’t move around. The
    water does. Land masses spread apart as the earth is growing bigger and
    bigger. But that’s another story. Otherwise, GREAT JOB! This is the best
    explanation of the controversial sea level issue, on earth. Literally. This
    makes history.

    RedKB
    RedKB
    November 26, 2013 6:04 AM

    There is so much I don’t know that I wish I did. Thanks for making it one
    thing less.

    TrainzXtreme
    TrainzXtreme
    November 26, 2013 12:24 PM

    Longer video=great! Thanks!

    Jake Long
    Jake Long
    November 26, 2013 12:52 PM

    Awesome video. Just one question: shouldn’t this be on the MinuteEarth
    channel?

    themplar
    themplar
    November 26, 2013 1:41 PM

    my mind is blown…..

    La Biología te hará libre (LBTHL)
    La Biología te hará libre (LBTHL)
    November 26, 2013 4:29 PM

    Great video! Would you tell me how do you make your animations?

    Ann Le {Anneorshine}
    Ann Le {Anneorshine}
    November 26, 2013 6:44 PM

    Whoa….very thought provoking. Didn’t realize how much of an elipsoid the
    earth was.

    Matheus Eichelberger
    Matheus Eichelberger
    November 27, 2013 12:15 AM

    Aren’t human beings such awesomely curious creatures?

    Robert Ibeh
    Robert Ibeh
    November 27, 2013 12:58 AM

    Waaay over my head.

    Adam Singer
    Adam Singer
    November 27, 2013 3:20 AM

    Great visual explanation of Sea Level (in case you didn’t already know).

    Danny Sullivan
    Danny Sullivan
    November 27, 2013 3:44 AM

    Great visual explanation of Sea Level (in case you didn’t already know).

    Ilya Grigorik
    Ilya Grigorik
    November 27, 2013 6:42 AM

    I don’t think I’ve ever put that much thought into sea level before. My
    mind is kind of blown by this.

    DanseMARKabre
    DanseMARKabre
    November 27, 2013 11:48 AM

    I did not understand your free fact. -_-

    Earth Touch
    Earth Touch
    November 28, 2013 5:57 AM

    Just when you thought it was simple …

    tiesthijsthejs
    tiesthijsthejs
    November 28, 2013 11:11 AM

    Funny how all these new media creations promote the old media they are
    supported by. Is there anyone under 20 still reading? You know, paper (or
    in this case: vocals) containing information that requires attention spans
    way over a minute, without providing visual input.
    (I’m old(er), so I’m allowed to be a slow fart!)

    Klaus Balzano
    Klaus Balzano
    November 29, 2013 5:21 AM
    Lasse Kärkkäinen
    Lasse Kärkkäinen
    November 30, 2013 5:12 AM

    Defining what the sea level is might not be as simple as you think. This
    three-minute video is most educational. Skip a few kitten pics today and
    learn some geodesy instead.

    SpazldNinjaDude
    SpazldNinjaDude
    December 7, 2013 9:29 PM

    Never knew that. Very awsem!

    AwkwardHandshaking
    AwkwardHandshaking
    December 14, 2013 2:25 AM

    I did not realize that it was so complicated, i never thought it would take
    a bunch if brilliant people to figure it out

    Thestankfish AKA Doge
    Thestankfish AKA Doge
    December 16, 2013 5:24 PM

    Shouldn’t this be on MinuteEarth?

    Eric Peterson
    Eric Peterson
    December 18, 2013 5:17 PM

    Everytime I watch these videos, I end up with more questions than answers.
    Which is *exactly* why I love these videos!!

    Julian Sammy
    Julian Sammy
    December 18, 2013 5:54 PM

    This is the most informative MinutePhysics I have seen. 100m differences in
    sea level due to gravitic variations? I think I said ‘Wow!” and “That’s
    wild!” half a dozen times while watching.

    Yeti Snoopy
    Yeti Snoopy
    December 18, 2013 8:08 PM

    Okay, love the info, but dude talk a little slower! For some of us english
    is a second language and it’s hard to keep up with all this new information
    thrown at us! We gotta understand too mate :P

    Leelee E
    Leelee E
    December 18, 2013 11:08 PM

    I seriously love this channel. If I teach physical science again I will use
    the videos as part of my class. This particular one will be used in my
    Earth science class next year.

    Icarus Pyrrhos
    Icarus Pyrrhos
    December 19, 2013 3:54 AM

    i can read chinese do you mind putting the free fact in english please

    bestsnowboarderuknow
    bestsnowboarderuknow
    December 20, 2013 1:40 AM

    *nice*

    Stephanie Liu
    Stephanie Liu
    December 22, 2013 7:02 AM

    There are so many things I wasn’t aware of in this seemingly straight
    forward concept.

    Nicolas Sauvage
    Nicolas Sauvage
    December 26, 2013 2:34 PM

    Ok, this is really not as obvious as I thought! I guess 99% would answer
    incorrectly on how this is calculated even if they had one hour to think
    about it.

    xtension xward
    xtension xward
    January 1, 2014 4:28 AM

    this is genius stuff give me some more sea level shit !

    Gary Moore
    Gary Moore
    January 10, 2014 12:35 AM

    Aren’t ya glad you don’t have to do this kind of math to figure out what
    pattern altitude you should use :)

    Mike Totman
    Mike Totman
    January 10, 2014 1:50 AM

    Not as simple as I thought.

    Demetris Genov
    Demetris Genov
    January 12, 2014 12:58 AM

    So… what is sea level?

    Philmore James
    Philmore James
    January 12, 2014 5:39 AM

    I like this but that’s to fast

    SelfishNeuron
    SelfishNeuron
    January 12, 2014 9:47 PM

    wow!

    purgruv
    purgruv
    January 13, 2014 12:42 AM

    Sea level, how does it work?

    Ankur Kini
    Ankur Kini
    January 13, 2014 4:02 AM

    do you first speak and then fast forward that a lill bit?

    Chad Sideris
    Chad Sideris
    January 14, 2014 8:25 AM

    I feel like your voice changed, and it is hard for me to get used to. I am
    not sure why this is just now on my subs.

    POPULAR

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.