Potential Rise in Sea Level from Melting Ice Caps

I had a challenging equation I needed to sort out in a recent math class. I was tasked with estimating how much the sea level might rise if either the Arctic or Antarctic ice caps were to completely melt. I started to do the math, not thinking about the end result immediately. Once I had finished, the numbers were startling. I then realized that I live in a location that would be about only half as close to sea level if such an event occurred.


I should also add that I am not sold on the idea of global warming at it's face value, only certain aspects of it.

Let's do the math.

The average radius of the earth is 3,960 miles. We find the surface area of Earth using the formula 4πr2. The result is ~197,054,985 sq. mi.

Since 71% of Earth's surface is water, that would be ~139,909,039 sq. mi.

To approximate the potential rise in sea level, we divide the total volume of ice cap (~680,000 cu. mi.) by the surface area of the oceans (~ 139,909,039 sq. mi.), which gives us a potential rise of ~28.29 ft. in sea level.

The impact of this rise in sea level would overtake all existing coastline and create new coasts where the land currently resides around 25 ft. above sea level. Looking at topographical maps of Boston, New Orleans and San Diego, I am certain that these cities would be forever changed by an event such as this. In places like Florida where much of the land is relatively close to sea level, the impact could be massive. In other locations like the American West coast, the less land might be claimed by the sea.

If the Antarctic ice cap were to melt as well, it could have a much greater impact. To approximate the potential rise in sea level, we divide the total volume of ice cap (~6,300,000 cu. mi.) by the surface area of the oceans (~ 139,909,039 sq. mi.), which gives us a potential rise of ~237.75 ft. in sea level.