1 . If an ice berg floating in the ocean melts, does the water level rise? Perfo
ID: 1777131 • Letter: 1
Question
1 . If an ice berg floating in the ocean melts, does the water level rise? Perform an experiment to answer this question, using a clear drin king cup or glass and some ice.. Mark the water level carefully after you put in the water, and then after you put in the ice cube(s) , and again after the ice melts. If your result is uncertain,, then repeat the experiment . [Note: please neglect the fact th at the ocean has salt in it. Your experiment and the discussion of it should be done with fresh water.]
a ) What are the implications for global warming and sea - level rise?? Could melting glaciers raise the sea level? If so, under what circumstances.. If not,, then why not? 1 - 3 sentences should suffice.. [You can find some related information in a New York Times article about Greenland published on Oct. 27 or 28, 2015 by C oral Davenport, Josh Haner, Larry Buchan an and Derek Watkins.. You can read it without a subscription]
b ) The ocean’s water is, of course, salty. You can find the density online. Taking this density into account , does your answer to ( a ) change? If so, in which direction (will sea level rise less, more, or the same?)
Explanation / Answer
SOLUTION:
Based on tidal observations since the end of 19th century and satellite observations from 1993, it is recognized that a global mean sea-level rise has occurred. Its speed was 1.7 ± 0.2 mm/year for a period of 1900 to 2009, but the rate has increased to 3.2 ± 0.4 mm/year since the end of 20th century.
Intensive studies have investigated the factors affecting contemporary sea-level rise. Their results are close to a quantitative explanation for the budget of the past sea-level rise. During the 20th century, thermal expansion and melting of mountain-based glacier and ice caps predominated. Although the roles of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) and West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) were unknown previously, recent studies reveal that melting and outflow of these ice sheets have proceeded since the end of 20th century.
A projected sea-level rise of 18–59 cm by 2100, which was given by the IPCC Fourth Assessment report, can be understood as the lower limit of the possible increase. Given the roles of the GIS and WAIS, the projection may be revised upward. Although some studies based on semi-empirical models suggest that sea level would rise over 1 m by 2100, the absolute value needs further careful examination.
The sea-level rise projected for 2100 poses significant threats to coastal zones in the world. Particularly, when the intensification of tropical cyclones is superposed on sea-level rise, the population at risk from inundation is likely to amount to several hundred million. We should therefore consider that climate change is an issue for security on how to guarantee the safety of such a large number of people, including those in Asia and Africa
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