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The author made a mistake by interchangeably using "sea ice" and "ice sheet ice". However, your correction itself isn't strictly correct. Melting sea ic can c

The author made a mistake by interchangeably using "sea ice" and "ice sheet ice". However, your correction itself isn't strictly correct. Melting sea ic can change sea levels by changing the density of the water in the ocean. Also, by melting it changes the amount of sunlight that is reflected. The increase in sunlight reaching the oceans will cause thermal expansion of the water.

bssrdf 10y ago
The author clearly confused the land ice/ice sheet with sea ice. Do you have evidence supporting your claim that "Melting sea ice can change sea levels by changing the density of the water in the ocean"? I'd be curious to know.
- yequalsx 10y ago
  Salt water is more dense than fresh water. Add fresh water and you decrease the density of seawater.
  - bssrdf 10y ago
    Loss of Land Ice (Not Sea Ice) = More Sea Level Rise SCHWEIGER: “Melting sea ice has no impact on sea level rise because it’s already floating in the ocean.” Like a glass of ice water. As it warms, the ice in the glass melts, but the total volume of water does not change. However, melting sea ice does contribute to climate change. That’s because white sea ice reflects the sun. So when it melts, the dark open ocean now absorbs sunlight and heats up, raising global temperatures, which in turn cause glaciers and ice sheets on land to melt further. Globally, sea levels have risen four to eight inches since the last century and will continue to rise as the ice melts, putting coastal communities worldwide at risk. http://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2014/11/loss-of-land-ice-not-sea-ice-more-sea-level-rise/ http://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2014/11/loss-of-land-i...
    - yequalsx 10y ago
      The change in density is small but it is not zero. It does change sea level but not in a significant way.
TakerofVita 10y ago
I would think that the fact that it is fresh water vs. salt water wouldn't impact sea level on the basis of changing density. Take two situations: 1. A mass of sea water is replaced by the same mass of fresh water. Sea levels/volume would increase as the average density would be lowered. (this is not the case) 2. A volume of fresh water is added to the ocean. Then V_total = V_ocean + V_freshwater.
- adrianN 10y ago
  Volume is not necessarily conserved when mixing liquids. Check the Science Guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84k206qaVRU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84k206qaVRU

bssrdf 10y ago

The author clearly confused the land ice/ice sheet with sea ice. Do you have evidence supporting your claim that "Melting sea ice can change sea levels by changing the density of the water in the ocean"? I'd be curious to know.

yequalsx 10y ago
Salt water is more dense than fresh water. Add fresh water and you decrease the density of seawater.
- bssrdf 10y ago
  Loss of Land Ice (Not Sea Ice) = More Sea Level Rise SCHWEIGER: “Melting sea ice has no impact on sea level rise because it’s already floating in the ocean.” Like a glass of ice water. As it warms, the ice in the glass melts, but the total volume of water does not change. However, melting sea ice does contribute to climate change. That’s because white sea ice reflects the sun. So when it melts, the dark open ocean now absorbs sunlight and heats up, raising global temperatures, which in turn cause glaciers and ice sheets on land to melt further. Globally, sea levels have risen four to eight inches since the last century and will continue to rise as the ice melts, putting coastal communities worldwide at risk. http://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2014/11/loss-of-land-ice-not-sea-ice-more-sea-level-rise/ http://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2014/11/loss-of-land-i...
  - yequalsx 10y ago
    The change in density is small but it is not zero. It does change sea level but not in a significant way.

TakerofVita 10y ago

I would think that the fact that it is fresh water vs. salt water wouldn't impact sea level on the basis of changing density. Take two situations: 1. A mass of sea water is replaced by the same mass of fresh water. Sea levels/volume would increase as the average density would be lowered. (this is not the case) 2. A volume of fresh water is added to the ocean. Then V_total = V_ocean + V_freshwater.

adrianN 10y ago
Volume is not necessarily conserved when mixing liquids. Check the Science Guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84k206qaVRU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84k206qaVRU