If only sea ice were to melt during global warming (and not land ice), how significantly would global sea level change? Explain why this is the case.

Question

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The Answer is If only sea ice were to melt during global warming (and not land ice), the global sea level would not change significantly. This is because sea ice is already floating on the water, and its melting does not contribute to a rise in sea level.

Sea ice forms when ocean water freezes, and when it melts, it simply returns to the ocean as liquid water. Since the ice is already displacing its own weight in the water, its melting does not add extra volume to the ocean. Therefore, the melting of sea ice alone would not lead to a significant change in global sea level.

On the other hand, if land ice were to melt, such as ice sheets and glaciers, it would significantly contribute to a rise in global sea level. This is because land ice is not already in the ocean, and when it melts, the resulting water flows into the ocean, increasing its volume.

In conclusion, the melting of only sea ice during global warming would not lead to a significant change in global sea level, as it is already floating in the ocean and does not add extra volume when it melts.

If Only Sea Ice Were to Melt During Global Warming