Quote:
Originally Posted by kp11364
In regard to a recently closed thread about rising water levels, try this:
1. Fill a drinking glass half-full with water
2. Add 2-3 ice cubes. Look at the water level.
3. Put the glass aside; let all the ice melt. You will see that the water level remains the same. Why? Because the amount of water remains the same, regardless of the state of the water.
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First off, melting glaciers are on land & above sea level so all that water runoff is raising sea levels. Even inland mountain snowpack & glaciers are melting and that runoff eventually ends up in the oceans. Then there is the added effect of thermal expansion as the oceans become warmer, the water expands.
Your example of ice cubes in water is however comparable to melting sea ice. As ice on land melts, water flows into the ocean, and sea level rises. But sea ice, the stuff that forms a frozen cap floating on top of the water, has only a very minor impact on sea level. Ice is less dense than liquid water & that's why ice floats and a portion of the ice floats above water. When ice melts, the same mass fits into a smaller volume.
I will never understand laypersons who dispute proven scientific findings. Try telling the polar bears who are drowning as the Arctic Circle melts and shrinks that global warming is a farce. By promoting non-scientific theories, conspiracy theories, and just plain lies regarding global warming it is following generations who will have to deal with the problems caused by global warming and the short sighted and selfish views of the climate change deniers.
