Fig. 2: Diagram showing heights of past sea levels relative to the present day sea level for localities with uplift rates ranging from 0 to +7 mm per year relative to the Netherlands. Diagram is based on data from the Netherlands, New Zealand, and other localities for which three or more sea level heights that are well distributed in time are known for the last 10,000 years. It should be noted that the lines for the various uplift rates are not independent. If one is known the others can be calculated. The diagram shows that submergence was followed in regions with uplift rates of more than about 2 mm per year (relative to the Netherlands) by emergence. The total emergence given by the emergence height of the Highest Holocene Shoreline (H.H.S.) is used to date the oldest beach ridge. It should be noted that the diagram is not applicable to localities undergoing isostatic or other non-uniform uplift, and that the uplift rate of most parts of the world is about + 1.3 mm per year relative to the Netherlands.