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Old 09-01-2017, 01:40 PM   #283 (permalink)
NeilBlanchard
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Oh, it is very complex. The "extra" gravitation pull of all the ice on Antarctica has shifted sea level toward the south pole, changing the shape of the earth. The earth's spin causes it to be an oblate spheroid, but the ~2.5 MILES of ice is pushing the land under it down by almost 1/2 mile. AND the bulge of the ocean (which otherwise would be centered on the equator) is shifted south quite a bit.

Even which mountain we call the tallest - would change, if / when all the Antarctic ice melts. Instead of Mt Everest being called the tallest - it would be Mt Chimborazo in Ecuador.

The 'Highest' Spot on Earth? : Krulwich Wonders... : NPR

If all the Antarctic ice melts, and given enough time for all the water to shift - the northern hemisphere would have about 100' of additional sea level rise, because of all the water that is currently held in place by the "extra" gravity of the Antarctic ice.

AND, the speed of earth's spin would change (slow down, I think?) so a solar day would be longer, and we'd gain more heat from the sun - AND it would change the orbit of the moon, too!

Because, remember the tides are accelerating the moon's orbit - eventually, the moon will reach escape velocity and fly away ... I think that having more liquid water will make this happen more quickly - but that is only a guess.
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