Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post
So the latest claim is that glaciers on Antarctica are melting. Oh dear.

So the question I'd ask is... to what extent does the weight of glacial ice deform the continent of Antarctica? As the ice melts, the landmass will become less deformed, resulting in lower displacement of water. Imagine, if you will, a lump of putty mostly submerged in a bowl of water, with plenty sticking out above the water level. Squish the putty to deform it so more of it is under water, and the water level will rise. Release the pressure so the putty takes back its original shape, and the water level will drop.

Iceland is currently experiencing glacial melt, and is also noting its landmass rising. Thus, Iceland, while creating more sea water, is simultaneously displacing less sea water. There is a fear that this could result in greater volcanic activity. The irony there is that a big enough volcanic eruption will cool the planet sufficiently to reverse the melting trend of glaciers. Even if glacial melt results in a net increase in sea level, the time scale we're looking at means personally I'm more worried about a volcano going pop, blocking sunlight, and freezing the shit out of us.
Explain to me again how the rising land mass is somehow displacing less water than before?

If you have a flexible bowl with water in it, and you push up a "mountain" from the bottom of the bowl, then you are going to see the water level in the bowl rise.

It's no different than if you took that bowl and set it on top of a sponge. The sponge makes a little island. Now, start taking some of the water in the bowl and freeze it into ice, and stack it on top of the sponge. OK, now we're primed to do the experiment. As the ice melts, and fills the bowl, the water level will tend to rise. As the weight compressing the sponge is reduced, the sponge will expand and displace more water, and again, the water level will rise. Perhaps more of the sponge will be out of the water at the end, but the water level for the rest of the system will have risen. It is only the changing shape of the sponge that belies the change in water level.