If the polar ice caps melt,will the continents form an new Earth like it has been doing for millions of years?
2007-12-14 13:09:51 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Plate movement is not governed or even affected by the presence or absence of ice. The forces involved derive from activity inside the earth, and the mass of ice, although huge from our point of view, is insignificant relative to the mass of the crust and does not affect lateral motion. Ice mass can cause slight depression of the crust (a maximum of a few hundred meters) but this depression is trivial in perspective.
2007-12-15 00:32:25 · answer #1 · answered by busterwasmycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The continents are constantly moving. Whether or not the ice caps are there will make no difference.
2007-12-14 13:22:36 · answer #2 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋