Poll: Sea Level Change

[MentalAvenger]

If all the ice in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans melted, what would be the change in global sea level?

[Ronald Brak]

Ah, a trick question. You got me!

Of course, if all the ice in Antartica and Greenland melted the sea level rise would be about 68 meters.

[Swift]

I don't see why this is a poll question, it's not a matter of taste, like do you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek. And, the bigger question is, not if all melts, but how much will and how quickly.

[ToSeek]

I don't see why this is a poll question, it's not a matter of taste, like do you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek. And, the bigger question is, not if all melts, but how much will and how quickly.

No, there is a correct, factual answer. But it's something of a trick question, as Ronald notes.

[Argos]

Yeah. Read it slowly. :)

[One Skunk Todd]

Presumably the melting of that ice would indicate an increase in global (and oceanic) temparature. So there might be some ocean rise due to thermal expansion.

[Swift]

Presumably the melting of that ice would indicate an increase in global (and oceanic) temparature. So there might be some ocean rise due to thermal expansion.
There is, though I don't recall the numbers. I think the rise from melting ice/snow is much more than from thermal expansion, but I don't remember for sure.

[farmerjumperdon]

I never knew there was Antarctic Ocean.

Why no mention of Greenland?

Looks like a trick question; I'll wait for the trick answer.

I would add that if all the ice everywhere melted, even your last option is way way way too little.

[korjik]

Is there a point to this? maybe one that should be in ATM, or GS?

[NEOWatcher]

Yep; trick question. One of those forehead slappers, in fact. :doh:

[mike alexander]

Talking about floating ice, I asssume. No significant change.

[Kullat Nunu]

I never knew there was Antarctic Ocean.

Maybe the OP was referring to the Southern Ocean (ocean south of 60°S according to the International Hydrographic Organization).

[MentalAvenger]

I never knew there was Antarctic Ocean.
The Southern Ocean, also known as the Great Southern Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean and the South Polar Ocean, comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean south of 60° S latitude. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ocean)

Scientists Chart Life on Antarctic Ocean Floor (http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-23-voa29.cfm)

The drama in the Antarctic Ocean came after activists steered their inflatable boat between the whaler Nisshin Maru and a tanker carrying fuel. (http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/newsfeed/2008/01/23/david-v-goliath-86908-20294856/)

Antarctic Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13422&org=ANT)

Why no mention of Greenland? Greenland is an island, not an ocean.

Looks like a trick question; I'll wait for the trick answer. Yes, it was a trick question. The trick is observation and careful reading.

[hhEb09'1]

Why no mention of Greenland?And why no mention of the Antarctic continent? :)

Since fresh water is less dense than salt water, and a lot of the ice is fresh, the ice displaces a bit less than it would if it were melted. So, since this is a trick question, I'm going with the 8 inches, although I have no idea what the right answer is.

PS: This wiki page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_ice_packs) says the Arctic ice is about 3 meters thick, has reduced to about 4.14 million square kilometers (and will disappear by 2013--o well the world will have ended, right?). The density of surface sea water is about 1027 kg/m3, so 2.7% of 3 times 4.14 million km2 is 335 km3, distributed over 3/4 of the earth surface area of 4/3 pi 6400 km squared...I get 2.6 millimeters, you?

[MentalAvenger]

Talking about floating ice, I asssume. No significant change.Exactly. Many people don’t realize that when floating ice melts, the level of the water it is floating in does not change. I brought it up to make that point.

Actually, in the real world, there may be some thermal expansion. However, that would be more than offset by the sublimation of ice while it is melting. Therefore, the level of the sea might actually drop by a small amount. :)

[MentalAvenger]

Maybe the OP was referring to the Southern Ocean (ocean south of 60°S according to the International Hydrographic Organization).And maybe the OP was referring to the Antarctic Ocean.

[man on the moon]

There is, though I don't recall the numbers. I think the rise from melting ice/snow is much more than from thermal expansion, but I don't remember for sure.

Do you mean expansion by getting warmer? Ice is actually less dense than water per volume (takes up more space) so the water in the ice should actually take up less space than it did while frozen. It balances out as a couple others pointed out (floating ice sticks partially out of the water, so it evens out, demonstrable by some crazy math).

Or did you mean something else? Sorry if I misread your thought.

[Ronald Brak]

Would you like me to walk down to the beach and ask it if it's the Southern Ocean or the Antartic Ocean?

[AndreasJ]

Are we counting ice that's resting on the sea bottom?

[Swift]

Do you mean expansion by getting warmer? Ice is actually less dense than water per volume (takes up more space) so the water in the ice should actually take up less space than it did while frozen. It balances out as a couple others pointed out (floating ice sticks partially out of the water, so it evens out, demonstrable by some crazy math).

Or did you mean something else? Sorry if I misread your thought.
I meant something else (no apology needed). Once water gets warmer than 4C, it expands with increasing temperature (thermal expansion). So, even a 100% liquid water ocean will get bigger (deeper) with increasing temperature. As the oceans warm, that will contribute a small effect from to rising ocean levels, but I believe that is a much smaller effect than the rise from melting ice and snow.