Submergence 1 : Inundation of land areas, either by a gradual net rise in sea level or by subsidence of the land due to isostatic changes. Also, earthquakes can cause sudden submergence of land areas
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission IOC technical series 37, Tsunami Glossary (A glossary of terms and acronyms used in the tsunami literature - English), , United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, Paris, France 1991. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000885/08853 8eb.pdf, (ND/ Tsunami Sci - Brit) {590}