Sea level change through the last glacial cycle

Sea level change during the Quaternary is primarily a consequence of the cy clic growth and decay of ice sheets, resulting in a complex spatial and tem poral pattern. Observations of this variability provide constraints on the timing, rates, and magnitudes of the changes in ice mass during a glacial c ycle, as well as more limited information on the distribution of ice betwee n the major ice sheets at any time. Observations of glacially induced sea l evel changes also provide information on the response of the mantle to surf ace loading on time scales of 10(3) to 10(5) years. Regional analyses indic ate that the earth-response function is depth dependent as well as spatiall y variable. Comprehensive models of sea level change enable the migration o f coastlines to be predicted during glacial cycles, including the anthropol ogically important period from about 60,000 to 20,000 years ago.