Math Formula

[Guest]

I guess I need to get a life or something. Been watching this thing on
global warming and I need to see some numbers to believe what is being said.
Al Gore has said that if either Anartica or Greenland were to melt
completely the oceans would raise 40 feet. He even showed maps of the ares
that would be underwater if that were to happen.
The area of Greenland is 836,330 sq Miles.
The area of Anactica is 5,500,00 sq miles
The area of the oceans of the world is 196,935,000sq miles(surface of the
earth)*.71(percent of the area of the earths surface that is
water)=139,823,850sq miles.
My question is how do I figure out how many feet of ice above sea level is
required on either of these places to raise the water level of all the oceans
40 ft?
Not home work guys, would love to be in school but that was over to many
years ago. Just trying to see if these "facts" can be validated.

Mike Rogers

 

[Guest]

I think you're asking the wrong question.

1) The relevant question is: What is the volume of water required to raise
sea levels by (say) 40 feet?
2) Does Antarctica and Greenland have an amount of water equal to that volume?

I don't know how you would answer question 2, however, because ice
compressed a mile or so below the surface ice has a much higher density than
the surface ice, so converting the volume of ice to the density of liquid
water is at best an estimate.

Dave

 

[Sandy Mann]

According to one programme I saw on global warming, the expansion of the
oceans due to the rising temperature of the water will have a much greater
effect than the melting in all of the ice at both poles.

--
Regards,

Sandy
In Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland
and the crowning place of kings

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed) with @tiscali.co.uk

 

[Guest]

I will round a bunch
40 feet = .007576 miles
..007576*140,000,000 = 1,000,000 cubic miles of water
total surface area antartica 5,500,000 square miles
1,000,000/5,500,000 *5280 just under 1000 feet
Total surface area green land 800,000 square miles
1,000,000/800,000 * 5280
6600 feet thick
the ice sheets in Greenland and antartica are estimated as being over 2
miles thick

 

[Guest]

bj

Thanks for the input. I used your "rounded" formate to do my calculations.
What I understand you are saying is that: If there is over two miles of ice,
I am assuming that is at its thickest point, then the 6687.49 feet would
probably be within the average thickness over the entire area. So it is
probibly a believeable statement to sat that if it were to melt it would add
40 feet to the oceans.

It still does not seem to fit when one considers the fact that Greenland is
..60% of the size of the water area and Antartica is 3.93% of the water area.
I am not saying it is not right, just that the proportions seem wrong. I
will "ponder" it some more and post back if I need to. Thanks again for your
help, it is greatly appreciated!!!!

Mike Rogers

 

[Guest]

Dave F

Thanks for the post. As I research this I am finding there are a lot of
variables. I think your point “at best an estimate†is what I am going to
end up with. Thanks for the thoughts.

Mike Rogers

 

[Guest]

Sandy Mann

That is an area that I think I will leave to some one else. <g> The
variables there would be endless. The first one that hits me is how deep
would the temp change go and what are the steps in that temp according to
depth? Then what part would the ocean currents play in the mix? Good thought
tho. Thanks!!

Mike Rogers