Re: [Phys-L] Iceberg melting and sea level rise

["John Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

The article abstract leaves out an important factor.  The reason why melting
ice in pure water does not cause the water to rise is due to the anomalous
expasion when ice freezes so the volume of the melted ice is the same as the
volume displaced.  But in the case of salty water the volume of the melted
ice is greater than the volume of the water displaced.  Using the figures
provided by BW the density of sea water is about 2.5% greater than pure
water (2% to 3%).  So the effect of the iceberg melting is around 2.5% of
the volume of the iceberg. This is certainly a small effect.  In the case of
the arctic floating ice melting, there would also be a small rise in ocean
due to the fact that the ice has lower concentration of salt than the
underlying ocean.  You only need to compare the density of pure water with
the density of salt water.  A small effect indeed!

Incidentally the preferential freezing of the water is the traditional way
of making apple jack from hard cider.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

> Interesting. Can someone send the full article for me to read?
>
>
> Phys-L@Phys-L.org writes:
> > Hi,
> >
> > John C. stated a that "But iceberg melting does not 
> contribute to sea 
> > level rise.". Here is a link to a paper which challenges this idea:
> > <http://scitation.aip.org/content/aapt/journal/tpt/48/5/10.11
> 19/1.33930
> > 68>
> >
> > A short excerpt from the abstract: 
> >
> > ":..the sea level will rise. The analysis shows the wrong 
> conventional 
> > answer [such as the statement above] is due to the wrong assumption 
> > that water from a melted iceberg has the same density as seawater."
> >
> > The argument seems convincing and the demonstration does work. Any 
> > counter-arguments?
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Antti Savinainen, PhD
> > Finland
> > --
> > *************************************************************
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> > ** Viesti on tarkastettu roskapostinsuodatus- ja 
> > virustorjuntaohjelmistolla.
> > *************************************************************
> **********
> > **
> >
> >
> >
> >
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>
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