Animation of the effect of changing sea levels on the land area. The animation starts with sea levels 150 metres below current levels, with the uncovered land shown in light blue. This was the situation during the peak of the last glacial period, some 20,000 years ago. Each step from there indicates a rise in sea level of 10 metres, until at the end the sea level is 80 metres above its current level. That level is consistent with estimates of the level that would result if the Greenland and Antarctic ice caps melted completely.