Ask AP: Global warming and the Earth's rotation

John Porretto

AP Business Writer, Houston

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As we know, the ice in the polar caps is melting, changing into water. Ice is lighter than water. This ice, at the top and bottom of the globe, is spreading around the globe as water, causing sea levels to rise.

So the question is: Will this change in the location of all this water affect either the tilt of the Earth on it axis, or the Earth's path around the sun?

Richard Driscoll

Winnsboro, S.C.

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As the polar ice melts and sea level rises, it will slightly affect the rotation of the Earth, but not our path around the sun. But even in the scenario of a major, rapid polar ice melt, the effects of the changes in rotation and tilt would barely be noticeable -especially compared to the effects of the accompanying sea rise.