What would happen to Earths overall temperatures if the ice caps melted?
The issue of melting ice-caps affecting thermohaline circulation (THC) is a poorly understood concept, much more research needs to be conducted before we are in a position to begin making predictions – at least ones with any degree of accuracy to them. The drivers of THC are density, temperature and salinity; all three of these are affected by the melting of the ice caps. This may sound odd… as the ice-caps melt the fresh water running off into the surrounding seas and oceans actually warms up the ocean. This is because the meltwater has a temperature just above freezing whereas the ocean temperature is approx 1.5°C below freezing (it’s saltwater so has a sub-zero freezing point and it has a lot of energy in it). So yes, molten ice warms the surrounding water. Here’s another thing that may sound odd… As the meltwater enters the ocean and mixes with it the density increases because the volume of water contracts. This is due to an unusual property which water possesses in that it is at i
