2006-06-30 19:42:10 · 13 answers · asked by samp707@sbcglobal.net 1 in Environment
To begin: when floating ice melts the level doesn't go down it stays the same . Archimedes states that a floating body displaces its own weight of water.
Your question still stands. The reason that melting icecaps would increase sea levels is that much of the ice is not floating but supported on land and will therefore run down into the sea.
The floating ice at the north pole will have no effect on sea levels but much of antarctica's ice is on land, as is much in Siberia, northern Canada, etc.
2006-06-30 19:56:39 · answer #1 · answered by toldyaso 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ice cubes contain large pockets of air, which is released when the ice melts. However, before the ice melts, they occupy an area as well, hence when some ice cubes melt, the volume of the water goes down. However, since the majority of the world's ice is actually on top of the ocean level, when they melt, they can only add to it.
2006-07-01 02:46:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the ice caps were totally submerged in the water, what you say is true. But not all of the ice caps are in the water. A large part of the southern ice cap is on land several miles thick. The ice cap on Greenland is also very thick. The fear of sea levels rising is based on land based ice melting and adding all of that locked up water into the oceans.
2006-07-01 02:54:54 · answer #3 · answered by Raymond C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abby is close to correct. The air entrained in ice is not a significant factor. What is significant is that the glacial ice falling into the ocean is coming from land, and thus increasing the total volume of water in the ocean. Once the ice is in the ocean, the sea level is not changed by the melting of the ice.
-- Robert A. Saunders, Lake Stevens, WA.
2006-07-01 02:51:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will raise the level of the water. As ice on land (Antarctica) melts, it will flow into the surrounding ocean. The confusion lies in thinking that all the ice is in the water.
2006-07-01 02:53:11 · answer #5 · answered by googy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antarctic ice is on land, so it is not floating in water. As it melts, it will raise the ocean level.
Arctic ice is floating, and it will lower the ocean level as it melts.
Glacier and mountaintop ice is on land, and it will have a net impact of raising ocean levels as it melts.
There is much more Antarctic ice and Glacier ice than Arctic ice, so the ocean level will rise.
2006-07-01 02:57:07 · answer #6 · answered by Lee J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't know that this was the case with melting ice in a glass but if this is true you have a very good question.
2006-07-01 02:47:50 · answer #7 · answered by Scott R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the displacement of the melted water takes up less space than the ice cubes,you still end up with more water in the glass it's just in a different state.
2006-07-01 17:47:42 · answer #8 · answered by gr8leaf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ice in a glass is sitting below the surface, it contains air and will therefore decrease the net volume of water. The ice caps are on the top and bottom, and even out of the water therefore no matter howmuch air they contain will add to the water volume.
2006-07-01 02:47:53 · answer #9 · answered by alwaysmoose 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its weird water is the smallest at 4dergees celcius so it seems to get smaller but gradually as it get hotter and hotter it will eventually get even bigger. also the ice caps are above sea level, and if they melt the melted water will go back down to sea level
2006-07-01 02:47:34 · answer #10 · answered by thenextiommi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋