If the height of things are measured by their distance above sea level then....?

Question

As global warming causes the polar ice caps to melt and the sea levels to rise a little, do we have to go back and rewright all the science books and geography books, etc. that deal with the height of mountains and everything else to reflect their new distance above sea level?? If so, then how often will we do that if the ice keeps melting and the water continues to rise??

Answer 1

Heights above sea level are determined on a national and an international basis. In both cases an arbitary mark is taken which reflects the average between high and low tides. A rise in sea levels will affect where the average lies but it would take a very dramatic rise to have an appreciable effect.

Any altitude or height stated is relative to the arbitary mark - in the UK for example (where I am), it's a white line painted on the harbour wall in the town of Newlyn in Cornwall, every height in the UK is given in relation to this line.

There is an international datum as national ones vary. If for example, the UK datum was used to measure heights in the US then everything could be 2 metres lower.

Strange as it may seem, sea levels are different around the world and not just due to the tides. The benchmarks that are in use now will serve their purpose just as well even if they're below sea level.

Also, most heights aren't exact because surveying is a very complicated process. It's not unusual for the height stated for a mountain to change when it's resurveyed, usually only by a few metres.

Answer 2

Your question is stable yet i think of no longer on your point.... there's a term called atmospheric stress. I skill the stress exerted by air. This stress is distinctive for various heights. Lesser the peak extra is the stress. So we calculate height of Mt. Everest utilising trigonometry *maths phenomena* and the peak of its base type sea point utilising atmospheric stress. If u prefer to nicely known extra approximately it digital mail me.

Answer 3

I would guess that we would have to eventually, depending on how drastic the change was. I imagine that true sea level is always changing, but we don't change maps or measurements year to year.

Answer 4

And how high do you expect the oceans to rise?
It won't be as much as the fear mongers predict.