Sedimentary facies represent the original depositional environment and can be used to interpret changes in sea level. There are two main types of facies - lithofacies which describe rock characteristics, and biofacies which describe fossil composition. During a transgression, facies shift onshore as sea level rises. During a regression, facies shift offshore as sea level falls. A vertical succession of facies represents environments that were once laterally continuous according to Walther's Law. Global sea level changes are caused by continental glaciation and plate tectonics, while local changes involve vertical land movement or sediment supply.