G&T science
Somebody points out in the FT today that since 90% of an iceberg is under the sea and given that ice is less dense than water, the effect of ice melting should be to lower the sea level, not to raise it. He illustrates his point with a heavily iced glass filled to the brim with gin and tonic. If you don't drink it and let the ice melt, you will see that the level drops (and that's not due to evaporation!).
posted by Whispering Walls at 8:57 am
6 Comments:
This rather short-sighted view might have some mileage were it not for the rather inconvenient truth that most of the ice is not floating. Like, er, in the Alps and in the Antarctic, for example.
By all means go and by a holiday home in Norfolk if you want to continue with your 'bury your head in the sand' mentality when it comes to the climate changing - but lifestyles are going to have to change if we are going to address this serious global problem.
Scientifically illiterate people passing round these homilies to lull people into a false sense of security is hardly helping matters.
Ah, says the loony greeny, but it's the ice on the Antarctic Land Mass that's going to do the damage!.. Only,er, this ice is apparently increasing. So er, maybe Lawson has a point.
And I cannot imagine anyone waits long enough when drinking a G&T to LET the ice melt.
Hi Anon - this observation was directed at the specific argument that melting icebergs will cause flooding elsewhere.
Hi KL - I can't open my e-mails here so shall reply later. Hope all's well.
Leave a G&T?! Sorry you lost me at that stage.
It's been a long time since I've had a G&T, I agree with Kinglear on this, I don't think my ice would have time to melt either.
Must try that one day!
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