about 10+ gigtons or billion tons per 100 square km for 1 meter sea water.
2007-06-04 05:48:26 · 16 answers · asked by toodd 4 in Environment ➔ Global Warming
Ground water is a factor in earthquakes, one study found an increase in small tremors after the rainy season.
http://news-service.stanford.edu/pr/92/921201Arc2019.html
It's unlikely that an extra meter of water evenly spread over the earth would increase stresses. Even if it could trigger the quakes, the long term fault lines would produce about the same amount of quake energy.
2007-06-04 06:11:21 · answer #1 · answered by russ m 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually it's the other way around, a large subsea earthquake along a length of 400 miles, produced a sudden rise of sea level ranging from 10 to 90 ft with the recent Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Sea level change does not always have to be gradual.
2007-06-07 00:23:41 · answer #2 · answered by Nan B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
While its possible for a HUGE amount of water in a small space to cause an earthquake (small earthquakes due to filling of Lake Mead behind Hoover Dam) It takes a HUGE amount of water in a small space, not a relatively small amount of water spread over the entire surface of the world's oceans.
If 1 meter difference in sea level could cause an earthquake... Alaska would have a major earthquake every 12 hours.
2007-06-04 12:55:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. The weight of the ice is already providing force onto the earth's surface. If the ice melts, the weight of the water is the same as the weight of the ice.
2007-06-12 11:37:04 · answer #4 · answered by dsl67 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO how could this happen water just doesn't appear it was frozen so the earth has "weighed" the same since day 1. The was significantly warmer then it is now so it isn't like the earth is in untreaded territory.
2007-06-04 14:07:18 · answer #5 · answered by cruisinthekylakes 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question. I've never thought about it, but it seems logical that all that increased weight would put immense pressure on the tectonic plates. Thus possibly causing more earth quakes and giant tsunamies.
2007-06-07 19:35:27 · answer #6 · answered by Tom 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, I don't think so. I haven't researched this but my guess is that the extra weight generated by the polar caps would not be enough to affect tectonic plaques that move and create earthquakes.
2007-06-09 14:10:29 · answer #7 · answered by endymion_29017 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You pose an interesting question, toodd. I suppose it's possible since water is a lubricant. I also suppose it's possible for the extra weight of water to cause cracks on the ocean floor causing slipping. I'll have to research the issue further.
2007-06-04 12:55:14 · answer #8 · answered by Raptor 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, it doesn't impose any danger to the earth . Only global changes impact a huge difference that will cause a change.
2007-06-12 03:27:04 · answer #9 · answered by jedi12 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, that would create a REDUCTION in the weight of glaciers, easing stresses on the earth's crust.
2007-06-04 13:17:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋