Are melting icebergs causing the sea level to rise?

Question

A friend of mine suggested the melting of icebergs does not contribute rising sea levels. I said they do because when they melt, the water has to go somewhere i.e - in the sea. He says that they won't have an effect because their mass is already affecting the sea because of the displacement of water of the weight. He also argues that if you put a 10m x 10m cube that weighs 1 ton in the water, that it will displace the same amount of water that a 1m x 1m cube that weighs a ton would. I disagree with him.

Is he right?

Answer 1

in regards to the ice experiment, the water will not overflow, and the water level will stay the same(this is what happens in the north pole). if you add dirt or sand to the same amount of water in another glass, when the ice melt, it would change the water level...which is basically what happens in the south pole.