[srmanuel]

Perhaps I’m not a scientist but doesn’t ice expand when it’s frozen and then takes up less volume when it melts, if that’s true why wouldn’t ocean levels go down instead of up if that glacier melts

[NorthMountain]

That glacier is on land. If it melts, it joins the ocean.

Floating ice has no effect on water level when it melts.

[z3n]

Perhaps I’m not a scientist but doesn’t ice expand when it’s frozen and then takes up less volume when it melts, if that’s true why wouldn’t ocean levels go down instead of up if that glacier melts

~~~

You are correct, but for a few problems. If I am not mistaken, the volume different is a few percent. It is not substantial. The main problem is that the glacier is currently mostly above the waterline, due to it’s connection to the antarctic continent. If it gets undermined and then falls in, 90%+ of it’s volume will be added to the sea (because ice has the higher volume, iceberg tips are above water due to buoyancy), and then as it melts all of the volume is added

[ssapro]

The earth is calculated to be only 0.5% water so what harm could a little extra water do? Just more fear porn.

[Pearls Before Swine]

... if that’s true why wouldn’t ocean levels go down instead of up if that glacier melts

I think it depends on whether said glacier is fully floating in water, or is largely held above the water by land. If the former, yeah, melting it won't make that big a difference. If the latter, it's like putting extra into the waters which isn't presently there.

And I'd like to see a more reasoned estimate than a parroting of the highest last bid in the hysterical media.

And... there's nothing to be done about it anyway.

[Dennis M.]

I am a scientist. These overhang the water and depend upon the water for support. When they melt there will be no change in ocean water level.

[TexasGator]

“Perhaps I’m not a scientist but doesn’t ice expand when it’s frozen and then takes up less volume when it melts, if that’s true why wouldn’t ocean levels go down instead of up if that glacier melts”

1. If the ice is floating it displaces the exact same amount of water as contained in the ice so melting would not reduce sea levels.

2. It is a glacier, not an iceberg. As it melts, it adds mass to the oceans.

[Hot Tabasco]

Perhaps I’m not a scientist but doesn’t ice expand when it’s frozen and then takes up less volume when it melts,

If fills up the same volume that it displaced.

Think of a glass full of ice, topped off to the rim with water.

When the ice fully melts, there is no increase in the water in the glass. The level stays the same.

[Bonemaker]

Meltiing ice results in no change in water level.

[GOPJ]

Wait - isn't this a great chance to pick up those ocean mansions in Martha's Vineyard 'on the cheap'?