3 ms·
I was under the impression that the biggest contributor is actually just the rising temperature of the water, because water expands as it heats.
by partiallypro 8y ago
I was under the impression that the biggest contributor is actually just the rising temperature of the water, because water expands as it heats.
- Tomminn 8y agoThe average depth of the ocean is about 4km, so a thermal expansion of 1x10^(-4) per degree C (right order of magnitude), would result in about a 4m rise per degree increase in average ocean temperature. Which is obviously significant. One of the issues with this theory is that the average temperature of the ocean is below 4 deg C, and in this regime the coefficient of expansion is negative. So we might actually see a small sea level drop due to ocean warming.
- fullarr 8y agoWhile there is probably a slight amount of expansion in liquid water from heat, water expands most when frozen solid. this is the entire reason ice floats
- partiallypro 8y agoHalf of all recent sea level rises have been from thermal expansion of water: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warmin...