T
TECTONIC EUSTASY
Nils-Axel Mörner
Paleogeophysics and Geodynamics, Saltsjöbaden,
Sweden
Synonyms
Tectono-eustasy
Definition
Tectonic eustasy (often written, tectono-eustasy) denotes
the sea-level changes generated by changes in ocean
basin volume (e.g., Mörner, 1986; Mörner, 1987; Rona,
1995).
Description
Changes in ocean basin volume are generated by different
geodynamic processes such as sea-floor subsidence, ridge
growth, plate motions, and crustal movements. It is a slow
process leading to maximum sea-level changes of
$0.06 mm/year (Mörner, 1996). Global isostatic adjustment (GIA) in response to the glacial loading/de-loading
in association with ice ages (e.g., Peltier, 1982, 1998)
may be considered a special element of tectonic eustasy.
Bibliography
Mörner, N.-A., 1986. The concept of eustasy: a redefinition. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 1, 49–51.
Mörner, N.-A., 1987. Models of global sea level changes. In Tooley,
M. J., and Shennan, I. (eds.), Sea Level Changes. Hoboken:
Blackwell, pp. 333–355.
Mörner, N.-A., 1996. Rapid changes in coastal sea level. Journal of
Coastal Research, 12, 797–800.
Peltier, W. R., 1982. Dynamics of the ice age Earth. Advances of
Geophysics, 24, 1–144.
Peltier, W. R., 1998. Postglacial variations in the level of the sea:
implications for climate dynamics and solid-earth geophysics.
Reviews of Geophysics, 38, 603–689.
Rona, P. A., 1995. Tectonoeustasy and Phanerozoic sea levels. In
Finkl Jr., C. W. (ed.), Holocene Cycles: Climate, Sea Levels,
and Sedimentation. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue
17, 269–277.
Cross-references
Shoreline Changes
Submerged Coasts
Submergent Shoreline
THERMAL BIOLOGY
Nicholas B. Colvard and Brian Helmuth
Marine Science Center, Northeastern University,
Nahant, MA, USA
Synonyms
Biophysical ecology; Organism temperature; Thermal
physiology
Definition
Thermal biology is the study of physiological and ecological consequences of body temperature and of the
biophysical, morphological, and behavioral determinants
of organism temperature.
Introduction
The temperature of an organism’s body affects almost all
physiological processes, which in turn can have significant consequences for organisms, and interactions such
as competition and predation. While some animals (and
a few plants) make significant amounts of metabolic heat
M.J. Kennish (ed.), Encyclopedia of Estuaries, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016
TECTONIC EUSTASY
Nils-Axel Mörner
Paleogeophysics and Geodynamics, Saltsjöbaden,
Sweden
Synonyms
Tectono-eustasy
Definition
Tectonic eustasy (often written, tectono-eustasy) denotes
the sea-level changes generated by changes in ocean
basin volume (e.g., Mörner, 1986; Mörner, 1987; Rona,
1995).
Description
Changes in ocean basin volume are generated by different
geodynamic processes such as sea-floor subsidence, ridge
growth, plate motions, and crustal movements. It is a slow
process leading to maximum sea-level changes of
$0.06 mm/year (Mörner, 1996). Global isostatic adjustment (GIA) in response to the glacial loading/de-loading
in association with ice ages (e.g., Peltier, 1982, 1998)
may be considered a special element of tectonic eustasy.
Bibliography
Mörner, N.-A., 1986. The concept of eustasy: a redefinition. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 1, 49–51.
Mörner, N.-A., 1987. Models of global sea level changes. In Tooley,
M. J., and Shennan, I. (eds.), Sea Level Changes. Hoboken:
Blackwell, pp. 333–355.
Mörner, N.-A., 1996. Rapid changes in coastal sea level. Journal of
Coastal Research, 12, 797–800.
Peltier, W. R., 1982. Dynamics of the ice age Earth. Advances of
Geophysics, 24, 1–144.
Peltier, W. R., 1998. Postglacial variations in the level of the sea:
implications for climate dynamics and solid-earth geophysics.
Reviews of Geophysics, 38, 603–689.
Rona, P. A., 1995. Tectonoeustasy and Phanerozoic sea levels. In
Finkl Jr., C. W. (ed.), Holocene Cycles: Climate, Sea Levels,
and Sedimentation. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue
17, 269–277.
Cross-references
Shoreline Changes
Submerged Coasts
Submergent Shoreline
THERMAL BIOLOGY
Nicholas B. Colvard and Brian Helmuth
Marine Science Center, Northeastern University,
Nahant, MA, USA
Synonyms
Biophysical ecology; Organism temperature; Thermal
physiology
Definition
Thermal biology is the study of physiological and ecological consequences of body temperature and of the
biophysical, morphological, and behavioral determinants
of organism temperature.
Introduction
The temperature of an organism’s body affects almost all
physiological processes, which in turn can have significant consequences for organisms, and interactions such
as competition and predation. While some animals (and
a few plants) make significant amounts of metabolic heat
M.J. Kennish (ed.), Encyclopedia of Estuaries, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016