Meretaseme muutumisel eristatakse aeglast (eustaatilised liikumised) ja suhteliselt kiiret merepinna kõikumist (näiteks seiš, looded ning ühesuunalise tuule põhjustatud aju- ja paguvesi).
Storm surges are the most common type of short-term fluctuations on the Great Lakes as quite often strong storm winds blow across the lakes and pile up water on the downwind shore of the lake, resulting in wind set-up. On the opposing upwind shore, the storm surge lowers the water the exact amount that has risen at the downwind shore, resulting in a wind set-down.
