Unbelievable Optical Illusions: How Your Eyes Can Deceive You

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In summary, the conversation discusses the issue of rising sea levels and the misconception that removing oil from below the Earth's surface and melting icebergs can reduce sea levels. The expert explains that the volume of water from oil extraction is minimal and melting icebergs that are already in water does not change sea levels. The concern for rising sea levels is due to ice that is above sea level, such as glaciers.
  • #1
jph31
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Something has been bothering me for a while...

when we are removing oil from below the surface of the Earth and replacing it with water then how comes the sea levels are not falling?,

In fact i don't get this whole issue of the seas rising?, 95% of icebergs are under water, if you removed an iceberg and melted it the volume of water would be less than of ice, surely again melting icebergs reduce the levels!
 
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  • #2
jph31 said:
when we are removing oil from below the surface of the Earth and replacing it with water then how comes the sea levels are not falling?

I'm not sure how many oil wells use this technique, but I don't think the volume of water we're talking about is all that much.

jph31 said:
In fact i don't get this whole issue of the seas rising?, 95% of icebergs are under water, if you removed an iceberg and melted it the volume of water would be less than of ice, surely again melting icebergs reduce the levels!

Not quite. If you melt an iceberg that's floating in water, the water level shouldn't change. But icebergs aren't the issue with rising sea levels. It's ice that's above sea level that's the concern-- things like glaciers.

DaveE
 
  • #3
jph31 said:
95% of icebergs are under water, if you removed an iceberg and melted it the volume of water would be less than of ice, surely again melting icebergs reduce the levels!


Melting icebergs doesn't change any levels!
Try it with an ice cube in a glass of water.
 
  • #4
I tried melting ice cubes in a glass of water. Admittedly, the water level does not change as we usually thought.




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FAQ: Unbelievable Optical Illusions: How Your Eyes Can Deceive You

How does sea level rise occur?

Sea level rise occurs when the volume of water in the ocean increases, either through the addition of water from melting ice sheets and glaciers or from the expansion of seawater as it warms due to climate change.

What is causing sea level rise?

The main cause of sea level rise is climate change. As the Earth's average temperature increases, glaciers and ice sheets melt, leading to an increase in the volume of water in the ocean. Additionally, the warming of seawater causes it to expand, contributing to sea level rise.

How much has sea level risen in the past century?

According to NASA, sea level has risen approximately 8 inches (20 cm) in the past century. This is significantly higher than the average rate of sea level rise over the past several thousand years.

Will sea level rise continue to accelerate?

It is likely that sea level rise will continue to accelerate in the future due to ongoing climate change. However, the exact rate of acceleration is difficult to predict as it depends on various factors such as future emissions of greenhouse gases and the response of ice sheets and glaciers to warming temperatures.

How will sea level rise impact coastal communities?

Sea level rise can have significant impacts on coastal communities, including coastal flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources. It can also lead to the displacement of communities and damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses. Coastal communities must prepare and adapt to these changes to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise.

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