Thermal intake of melting ice as compared to thermal capacity of earth

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the thermal intake of melting ice, specifically the Greenland ice sheet, and its comparison to the Earth's thermal capacity. The participant highlights the significant energy required to melt the entire Greenland ice sheet, estimated at needing energy equivalent to what the Earth receives in two months. Key values mentioned include the volume of ice at 2,850,000 km³ and the enthalpy of fusion at 334 kJ/kg. The participant expresses difficulty in calculating the heat absorption from melting ice compared to atmospheric and oceanic thermal capacities.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermal capacity concepts
  • Knowledge of enthalpy of fusion
  • Familiarity with climate science terminology
  • Basic skills in performing thermodynamic calculations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the thermal capacity of the atmosphere and oceans
  • Learn about the enthalpy of fusion and its applications in climate studies
  • Explore thermodynamic calculations related to phase changes
  • Investigate the impact of melting ice on global climate patterns
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Climate scientists, environmental researchers, and students studying thermodynamics or climate change impacts will benefit from this discussion.

Willber Force
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Though this topic mentions climate change, I don't think it really is about it that, strongly anyway. I've just joined and noticed a ban on climate change discussions before posing this one, I don't think this is one, but if it is, I suppose the beast must have one of it's many heads chopped off. I'm just dumbfounded that it had to come to that, if anything, that's what I've got from this.

Back a few years ago there was a question climate change people were asking, which was, why there was more cooling than expected? One thing that came to mind right away was how melting water took in more heat than just its thermal capacity (I think I'm saying that right) and if it was capable of accounting for it and how strongly if any.

I don't know if anyone here is capable of easily answering that question, I do better with mechanical and electrical systems. I've made various starts into doing a back of the envelope calculation which I though would be as easy as thermal capacity of atmosphere, plus top meter of earth, plus oceans compared to amount of heat absorbed by the volume of ice that melted and degraded. But I couldn't make it to a start of an answer. I would think people involved in this would have those kinds of numbers around, but I didn't have any luck finding them on any of the occasions I've tried.

Anyway, it's getting late. Sorry if this is a stupid question, just something I've been wondering about for far too long.
 
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