yes, there's been times when fluctuations were rising and times when it was falling... the current trend is now rising... one can argue until the cows come home what is causing it... whether it's natural oscillations or also man-made contributions... bottom line, if you want to live on a coastline and not be influenced by rising sea levels then move to N.C. where they have a law against it... i guess they will arrest the sea and fine it if it dares to rise on their coast