Why will global warming cause the sea levels to raise?
With regards to the water cycle, the Earth is a closed system: ice/snow, water, and water vapor are all part of the same ‘pool’ of water. Evaporation moves water from the oceans, but that this doesn’t decrease the total amount of water = it is eventually returned to the oceans. So, warmer temperatures will mean that there may be more capacity for the atmosphere to hold water vapor, but it is unlikely that this could compensate for all the newly melted ice. So the oceans will rise. The are also two other problems associated with global warming and melting of ice that need to be considered: Ice or snow is white and reflects the suns heat back into space. In contrast, open water, land, and vegetation are dark and absorb most of the light and heat that land on them. So, as the poles melt and change color from white to dark, the amount of heat absorbed will increase, thereby increasing the melting rate, which increases the amount of heat absorbed, etc. … it becomes a self sustaining cycle
