Week 2

Melting Ice and Sea Level Rise Lab

Purpose: To model the sea level when ice is melted and to help students
understand how the elevation of global sea levels is present in our world. Also,
to determine whether sea ice or land ice causes a higher rise in sea level when
melted.
Materials: 8 Ice cubes per student, Water, !up per student, funnel, " e#ual
si$e graduated c%linder& prefer ''ml or higher(
Procedures:
. )irst, place * ice cubes into a graduated c%linder. Pour in +' ml of water into
that same graduated c%linder.
". ,e-t, pour also +' ml of water into the second graduated c%linder.
.. /sing a funnel, place it on top of the second graduated c%linder and put the
other * ice cubes into the funnel. This will model the land ice part.
*. Wait until all the ice have melted and record observations.
+. Measure the ml increased for the first graduated c%linder and the second
graduated c%linder and compare the results. 0ecord the results.
1uestions:
. Which melted faster, the ice alread% in the water &sea ice( or the ice placed
inside the funnel &land ice(2
". What were some observations on the melting of the ice2 The wa% the ice
melted and the reaction present2
.. Which one, sea ice or land ice, has a greater effect on the level of sea rise2
*. What ma% be some causes towards the melting of ice2
+. What are some possible conse#uences if sea level in our countr% does rise2
Possible Answers:
. 3epends on the e-periment result.
". The wa% the ice made a fi$$ling sound when it melted, the bubbles present,
the color of the water, and the si$e or shape that resulted to the ice cubes when
melted. All could be possible answers.
.. 3epends on the e-periment result.
*. 4lobal warming due to the continued burning of fossil fuels such as coal. The
rise in temperature causes the rapid melting of the ice. Anwers ma% var%.
+. If a sea level in a countr% increases, possible conse#uences can be rise in
water tables, coastline erosion, or increased storm or tidal damage to coastal
buildings and neighborhoods.
0eference: pmm.nasa.gov