Re: WHat would happen if we did not have icebergs?

Icebergs are large lumps of ice that float in water. If they melt, the sea
level does not change. You can see this by putting ice in a glass of water
and marking the water level. After the ice is melted the water level is the
same.

However, if the icebergs melt because the water is getting warmer, then we
may expect an expansion of the seas that will cause water levels to rise - but 
this is not because the ice melts. It is because hot water expands
relative to cool water.

Glaciers are also large lumps of ice, but they sit on land. Now, if they
melt, extra water runs into the seas and we may expect a rise in water
level. Therefore it is important to know what will happen with the
ocean-sea ice and what will happen with ice that sits on land. 

Ice sits on land at the south pole and on Greenland, and in a few glaciers
in mountains across the world. Quite a lot of water is locked in these and
oceans will rise quite a lot if they all melt.