http://www.ambitgambit.com/2009/05/17/sloshing-around-in-the-greenhouse/ Ambit Gambit Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:31:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.ambitgambit.com/2009/05/17/sloshing-around-in-the-greenhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-3108 Stainless steel Bangle Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:28:42 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3535#comment-3108 The initial idea (regarding the ice sheet atop the Antarctic land mass) may be right, as it does have a greater volume than the same amount of water. Less density as well, owing to the atomic arrangement of water ice crystals. The initial idea (regarding the ice sheet atop the Antarctic land mass) may be right, as it does have a greater volume than the same amount of water. Less density as well, owing to the atomic arrangement of water ice crystals.

]]> http://www.ambitgambit.com/2009/05/17/sloshing-around-in-the-greenhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-3109 Davide Wed, 27 May 2009 14:42:48 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3535#comment-3109 The initial idea (regarding the ice sheet atop the Antarctic land mass) may be right, as it does have a greater volume than the same amount of water. Less density as well, owing to the atomic arrangement of water ice crystals. Due to this, 'expanded' water's (ice's?) position on land would not, and could not influence, global sea levels. That is, until it slips and drips into the sea, of course. At which point it will eventually become melted ice (that is, water) so the non-linear profile becomes inconsequential. The initial idea (regarding the ice sheet atop the Antarctic land mass) may be right, as it does have a greater volume than the same amount of water. Less density as well, owing to the atomic arrangement of water ice crystals.
Due to this, ‘expanded’ water’s (ice’s?) position on land would not, and could not influence, global sea levels. That is, until it slips and drips into the sea, of course.
At which point it will eventually become melted ice (that is, water) so the non-linear profile becomes inconsequential.

]]> http://www.ambitgambit.com/2009/05/17/sloshing-around-in-the-greenhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-3110 ronda jambe Tue, 26 May 2009 08:01:49 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3535#comment-3110 Darn! I accidentally deleted the previous comment, with all the spam. The science students agreed with you, Davide, that 'sloshing' on our huge planet is not possible, given the molten core and its gravitational pull. I only know what the scientists tell me, I trust them more than financial advisors, who seem to mostly get it wrong. I also think we humans face hubris if we think we can alter the planet the way we do and not face consequences as we reach the limits of our knowledge. However, I believe you have at least one detail wrong: water is not like all substances, and has a non-linear expansion/contraction profile. Depending on the temperature range, it contracts or expands. It actually expands when it freezes, see <a href="http://www.practicalphysics.org/go/Experiment_554.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.practicalphysics.org/go/Experiment_554.html</a> Darn! I accidentally deleted the previous comment, with all the spam. The science students agreed with you, Davide, that ‘sloshing’ on our huge planet is not possible, given the molten core and its gravitational pull.
I only know what the scientists tell me, I trust them more than financial advisors, who seem to mostly get it wrong.
I also think we humans face hubris if we think we can alter the planet the way we do and not face consequences as we reach the limits of our knowledge.
However, I believe you have at least one detail wrong: water is not like all substances, and has a non-linear expansion/contraction profile. Depending on the temperature range, it contracts or expands. It actually expands when it freezes, see http://www.practicalphysics.org/go/Experiment_554.html

]]> http://www.ambitgambit.com/2009/05/17/sloshing-around-in-the-greenhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-3111 Davide Tue, 26 May 2009 07:39:01 +0000 http://localhost/ambit/?p=3535#comment-3111 A few more things to add to the mix Ronda... First we'll need to add and define ‘almost infinitely sensitive’. Secondly, the spherical nature of our planet is not in question, as we’re considering resultant lines of force from the planet’s gravitational field. So whether the Earth is a 'perfect sphere' or flat at its poles (or oblate, which it is) doesn’t affect the distribution of water on the Earth's surface, as the water mass fits into whichever form our planet takes? It’s also important to remember the Earth’s oblateness is a result of rotational forces which don’t directly influence the generation of gravity, which itself is produced in every atom in, on and above the Earth's surface. So measurements of variations or distortions in gravitational fields (and localised anomalies) can’t fully account for a ‘lop-sided’ distribution of liquid water within the ocean’s basins, which are implicitly local and anomalous, therefore would not cluster in the Northern hemisphere. That’s like tipping a glass of water on it’s side and expecting the water to pool at the top? FWIW, much of the anticipated sea level rise is expected to be a result of a warming ocean which, like any other form of matter, expands when heated. A few more things to add to the mix Ronda…
First we’ll need to add and define ‘almost infinitely sensitive’.
Secondly, the spherical nature of our planet is not in question, as we’re considering resultant lines of force from the planet’s gravitational field. So whether the Earth is a ‘perfect sphere’ or flat at its poles (or oblate, which it is) doesn’t affect the distribution of water on the Earth’s surface, as the water mass fits into whichever form our planet takes?
It’s also important to remember the Earth’s oblateness is a result of rotational forces which don’t directly influence the generation of gravity, which itself is produced in every atom in, on and above the Earth’s surface.
So measurements of variations or distortions in gravitational fields (and localised anomalies) can’t fully account for a ‘lop-sided’ distribution of liquid water within the ocean’s basins, which are implicitly local and anomalous, therefore would not cluster in the Northern hemisphere. That’s like tipping a glass of water on it’s side and expecting the water to pool at the top?
FWIW, much of the anticipated sea level rise is expected to be a result of a warming ocean which, like any other form of matter, expands when heated.

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