The Bottom of the Ocean Is Sinking Interesting article suggesting that the incredible weight of melted water is causing the sea floor to sink, this explaining why we are not seeing as much sea level rise as expected due to climate change. I am not sure what the implications are, but for decades excess sea level rise has been expected. Virginia is aware of the flexibility of the crust because we are sinking due to ice age glacier rebound, thus we are still in some trouble in places like Norfolk, no matter what.
What would the implications be for those along fault lines if the floor is sinking? I assume it's not evenly sinking, sinking faster, perhaps over deeper sections?
What could possibly be the mechanism involved in this phenomenon? I doubt it's compression. So it must be displacement or deformation, which would make sense. Some parts sink as they are displaced by mass, while others rise, hence mountains.
Such faith. No comment until I go through the GRL article. Other than, with oceans covering >70% Earth surface, how much downward force can come from a cm or few of water added on top? It would seem to imply that oceanic crust is rather sqooshy stuff. Meanwhile we recall that oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, latter being where thick deposits of (solid) water do indeed push downwards.
You must understand, this is science! Your common sense approach vs. science? I mock you. You are no longer welcome on Coast to Coast AM. /sarcasm
It was a joy in decades past to listen to that radio program on night time AM radio. I would not call it a shootout between science and common sense though. At present though I have to deal with being mocked by a fella with a lavender Prius. Or is it puce?
First this is a GRACE study with all strengths and weakness pertaining thereto. Second, the derived effect (oceanic crust depression) seems largest in Arctic and particularly around Greenland. For me it makes sense to think of interacting processes. Ice melts off Greenland (for example) that land has some rebound, and that has a converse effect on nearby oceanic crust. In no way do they appear to be advancing idea that a cm water added to top of ocean can sqoosh oceanic crust underneath. Anyway their SLR curves with this new factor added are very similar to priors. Except in Arctic.
I'm pretty sure rock is denser than water. As depth increases, the static pressure would be higher under the Rockies than an equivalent depth in the ocean. So far, ordinary matter under pressure compresses and become denser. Compressible is just relative. Bob Wilson
rock is denser than water. Note that Redoubt toggled off sarcasm above. But yeah. Continental crust 2.7 oceanic crust 2.9. Those are broad averages and rocks of different types range from pumice (floaty) to, I do not know, 'native' gold? The whole Earth density is 5.5; dominated by iron (7.9) core == Was it the Livescience take on this that asserted water pushdown, or did I just imagine it?
