07 Melting ice and gravity

Experiment: Melting glaciers vs melting ice sheets

Compare the effects of melting glaciers and melting ice sheets on the sea level.

Set up small seas with ice cubes above water representing glaciers and ice cubes in water representing ice sheets.

Time: 40 minutes (20 min prep, then 20 min running in background)

Level: Beginner

Materials

2 identical see-through containers, plastic or glass
Marker and ruler
Material for the land: rocks, gravel, clay, or plasticine
water
ice cubes (smaller are better)
heat lamp or blow dryer

Specifics and purchasing links are on this spreadsheet Materials list for CCSAE experiments

Procedure

Step 1

Measure and mark lines on the see-through containers. In this example the height is 3 cm.

Step 2

Make identical land masses for each container using the clay or plasticine.

Mark one "glaciers on land" and the other "icebergs in sea".

Step 3

Choose 2 sets of matching ice cubes. Make sure they are shorter than the height of the line marked on the container. In this example, less than 3 cm tall. If all of the ice cubes are too big, melt them a bit in water.

Place 1 set of ice cubes on the land mass in the Glaciers (land Ice) container, and the other in the water in the Icebergs (sea Ice) container

Step 4

Set the containers in a warm place to melt. A heat lamp or blow dryer may be used. Make sure not to put the heat source too close to the containers if they are plastic, as it might melt the plastic.

Step 5

Observe the water level in the containers as the ice cubes melt, every 5 minutes or so.

This experiment was adapted from these experiments:

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/lesson-plan/whats-causing-sea-level-rise-land-ice-vs-sea-ice/

Ice on land melts and flows into the ocean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2slKkJbBriI - Sea Level Rise Part II: Land and Sea Ice Experiment

Draw your own conclusion (open this box to see our suggestions)

Suggestions:

When the icebergs melted the water level stayed the same, but when the glaciers melted the water level rose.

Water moves from land above the ocean into the ocean (gravity)

Melted ice from the land adds to the volume of water in the ocean

Identify the physical, chemical or biological mechanism that is happening (open this box after you have an idea)

The mechanisms are melting ice and gravity

Water from land flows downhill into the ocean.

Relate this mechanism to climate change

Find the arrow (→) in the framework that represents this mechanism (starts at the cause phenomenon and goes to the effect phenomenon). (Use your printed copy of the framework, or open the one here. )

Pathway for Rising Sea Level.pdf

Open this box to check your connection

Then go to the Explainer pages to learn more about the Cause and Effect phenomena

Connection 7

Cause: Melting glaciers and ice sheets

What is happening: gravity - ice on land melts and flows into ocean. Water from land adds to the volume of the ocean.

Effect: Rising sea level

We’d love to hear how you used this tool in your community, how the students responded, and your suggestions to improve the experiments and other resources. Contact us at ccsae@mit.edu.