Ice free north pole...so eventually it seems maybe an ice free SOUTH pole?

Question

I asked a question earlier and was getting my poles mixed up obviously. So simalar question but as a what if the same happens at the SOUTH pole. Here is a link to the other question so you understand. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoHrl1jxfgxcEGJ5MiHwUYbsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080717000932AALC6hm

Answer 1

The south pole actually has a land mass and mountains, so it will be alot slower to lose ice, but it may, yes. The sea level would rise if the south pole melted, but not if the north pole did, because the ice in the water displaces the same amount as the extra water would. Penguins actually like warmer weather, so they would be fine. Leopard seals and Ross seals may become endangered.

Answer 2

Antarctica is losing ice fast, too. But the South Pole proper is far inland and at an altitude of 10,000 feet, so it will not be melting any time soon.

Answer 3

wouldn't be the first time the antarctic was ice free.  But the others are correct, it will be a long time coming and it would cause sea level rise.  Not quite the amount that occurred some ten or 15 thousand years ago with the melting of the northern continental glaciers, but still a really important change.  Won't happen over a few years only, of course.  will take many hundreds to a few thousand years if it happens at all.