From: ABlainey@aol.com
Date: Sun Jul 28 2002 - 17:42:40 MDT
In a message dated 29/07/02 00:17:03 GMT Daylight Time, mlorrey@datamann.com
writes:
>Kevin Bluck wrote:
>>
>> >Scientists seem to agree on at least one aspect of global warming: any sea
> >>level change will be gradual.
> >
> >I can think of at least one scenario in which sea level change would be
> >abrupt and catastrophic. If a large portion of the Ross ice shelf should
> >detach and slide into the ocean, sea levels could rise almost overnight as
> >much as 2 meters.
>THis is absolute hogwash. The Ross Ice Shelf is buoyancy neutral,
>meaning that it is already floating on the ocean. I wouldn't 'slide into
>the ocean' since it is already there. It's melting would neither raise
>nor lower the ocean levels one bit.
It is my understanding that the main threat from rising sea levels is
due to the expanding volume of the existing oceans because of the temperature
rise. The melting of the ice sheets at any location in the globe will mean
that the water created will have just about the same volume as the ice sheet
itself. Bearing in mind that water expands when frozen and therefor has a
smaller volume when defrosted, Also bearing in mind that 1/10 of
icebergs/sheets etc are above the water. I will admit that the exact figures
regarding this still eludes me, mainly because I haven't been arsed to work
it out. I would expect that having done the math, the net yield of extra
ocean volume will be negligible on a global scale.
As far as I can see, the melting of any ice sheet will only yield a
short term impact in its locality, such as Flooding.
I think the greater impact from this will not be in sea level changes,
but from the change in salinity of the oceans themselves. We already know
that salinity changes drive climatic controls such as the Gulfstream, which
keeps Great Britain many degrees warmer than it should be, given its
position. And as far as I am aware, El Ninyo is also driven be salinity
changes in the pacific.
I will stick my hand up and say that my views on this are mainly
assumption based on a little fact. Am I way off?
If I am way off and sea levels do rise. About a 3 meters will do me fine.
My house would then become prime beach front property and I could hire out
pedlo's for a living :o)
Alex
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