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Old 26-12-2010, 09:22 PM
el_draco (Rom)
Politically incorrect.

el_draco is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Tasmania (South end)
Posts: 2,315
Density of water

Quote:
Originally Posted by marki View Post
I am suprised no one has brought this up yet but water is one of a few compounds that has greater volume in the solid form than liquid form so shouldn't the sea levels drop rather then rise? Most of antartica is solid rock so it's only the artic that we need to worry about. I would love to see the calaculations that predict such dire changes if they melt. A low lying sand island yes, a whole continent, I doubt it.

Mark
Its more complicated than that. As ice melts it contributes more volume to the oceans, not an issue with the North Pole, but a net +ve contribution from Antactica and Greenland. As the oceans warm, they expand which will cause further flooding. However, the flooding is not a particulalrly serious issue unless you are in low areas. If the northern Permafrost melts, thats probably it folks. The amount of Methane that will be released will be mind blowing.