From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Sat Jun 30 2001 - 20:34:06 MDT
> Question: if all the ice on earth melted, how much would the seas rise?
> spike
If all the ice on earth melted, that would raise the temperature of the earth,
thus raising the relative humidity to such a degree that the added liquid
water would be absorbed in the atmosphere, and the level of the oceans would
fall, rather than rising.
No? OK, if all the ice on earth melted, that would mean that moses was back to
his old tricks, you know, parting the red sea and all that. So, when he melts
all the ice, he would divert it to a giant reservoir in Israel, and that would
_really_ lower the level of the seas.
No? Well then, if all the ice on earth melted, it would mean that we'd all
have to use our air conditioners much, more, and everyone would build a huge
swimmin' hole in the back yard, and that would take a copious amount of water,
so once again the level of the oceans would go down.
No? All right, here's what would really happen.
Waterworld
http://www.earthsky.com/1999/es991013.html
The height of Earth's oceans would rise if all of Earth's glaciers and ice
caps were melted. Low-lying coastal areas would be inundated -- places like
Louisiana and Bangladesh. Coastal cities around the world would be covered.
But the whole world wouldn't be submerged. Places higher than about a hundred
meters above sea level would still be on dry land.
No? Well then try
http://www.glacier.rice.edu/misc/whatisglacier.html
if ALL the ice on Earth melted, sea level would rise only about 72 meters (235
feet)
Still not satisfied?
www.ndirect.co.uk/~hootingyard/projects.htm
If all the ice on earth melted at once, the
planet would be flooded, and you wouldn't be able to have scotch on the rocks
τΏτ
Stay hungry,
--J. R.
Useless hypotheses:
consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
analog computing, cultural relativism
Everything that can happen has already happened, not just once,
but an infinite number of times, and will continue to do so forever.
(Everything that can happen = more than anyone can imagine.)
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