Total Displacement

xoxoxoBruce · 01-31-2019, 02:02 PM

A friend posed an interesting question. What is the total displacement of all the boats, ships, watercraft, in the world? And how much would that raise the sea level?
At first I thought is was silly, the total displacement couldn't possibly be more than a drop in the bucket on a planet that's 70% water. But I could be wrong, I was once in 1964.

Happy Monkey · 01-31-2019, 02:30 PM

1 million cubic meters of displacement would add less than three millionths of a millimeter, if I did my calculations right.

I then looked up total displacement of ships, only to find that XKCD already did the calculation. Using his estimate of 2.15 billion cubic meters of displacement, I come out to 0.006 mm, which matches his result.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-31-2019, 02:42 PM

Excellent find.

Gravdigr · 01-31-2019, 02:57 PM

If ya replaced ships with melted icebergs/glaciers...

Happy Monkey · 01-31-2019, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

If ya replaced ships with melted icebergs/glaciers...

You'd have a lot more tonnage, but they're hard to steer.

They've already done that calculation too. 70 meters.

Gravdigr · 01-31-2019, 03:44 PM

I guess that's why they don't use outboard motors to move the bergs outta the shipping lanes, huh?

Happy Monkey · 01-31-2019, 04:21 PM

They've considered it...

fargon · 01-31-2019, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

I guess that's why they don't use outboard motors to move the bergs outta the shipping lanes, huh?

Back in the late 60s or early 70s I read where someone had proposed towing an iceberg from Antarctica for the water needs of Los Angeles, they figured it would take a team of tugs several years to get there. they gave up on it.

zippyt · 01-31-2019, 11:40 PM

If any thing it would drop the water line
think about it , displaced water has to go some where ,
no resistance so up it goes
doesn't coruthers do ships , or was that an other Brit cellerite

xoxoxoBruce · 02-01-2019, 02:06 AM

Tough to move bergs because they'll roll over on you. Also take anything attached to them, over with them.
To make the water level go down take all the fish out. Oh, and gold, all the sunken gold, send it to me.. keep the fish.

zippyt · 02-01-2019, 07:48 AM

Thanks for all the fish

Spexxvet · 02-01-2019, 08:45 AM

Apparently, it's been done.

"Mid 1800s: According to the Encyclopedia of Antartica, small icebergs were towed from southern Chile up to Valparaiso as part of the brewery supply chain. A Chilean researcher said, "The icebergs were towed by ships of the conventional type. Sometimes the icebergs were supplied with sails to utilize the prevailing winds. The ice was used for refrigerating purposes in the breweries and was generally substituted for artificial ice." Apparently, the business continued until about the turn of the century."

Beer is the mother of all innovation.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technolo...chemes/243364/

xoxoxoBruce · 02-01-2019, 03:25 PM

The century has turned twice since then.

The bergs breaking off now seem to be miles long.

01-31-2019, 02:02 PM	#1
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Total Displacement A friend posed an interesting question. What is the total displacement of all the boats, ships, watercraft, in the world? And how much would that raise the sea level? At first I thought is was silly, the total displacement couldn't possibly be more than a drop in the bucket on a planet that's 70% water. But I could be wrong, I was once in 1964. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-31-2019, 02:30 PM	#2
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	1 million cubic meters of displacement would add less than three millionths of a millimeter, if I did my calculations right. I then looked up total displacement of ships, only to find that XKCD already did the calculation. Using his estimate of 2.15 billion cubic meters of displacement, I come out to 0.006 mm, which matches his result. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

01-31-2019, 02:42 PM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Excellent find. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-31-2019, 02:57 PM	#4
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	If ya replaced ships with melted icebergs/glaciers... __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

01-31-2019, 03:44 PM	#6
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I guess that's why they don't use outboard motors to move the bergs outta the shipping lanes, huh? __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

01-31-2019, 04:21 PM	#7
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	They've considered it... __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

01-31-2019, 11:40 PM	#9
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	If any thing it would drop the water line think about it , displaced water has to go some where , no resistance so up it goes doesn't coruthers do ships , or was that an other Brit cellerite __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

02-01-2019, 02:06 AM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Tough to move bergs because they'll roll over on you. Also take anything attached to them, over with them. To make the water level go down take all the fish out. Oh, and gold, all the sunken gold, send it to me.. keep the fish. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-01-2019, 07:48 AM	#11
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	Thanks for all the fish __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

02-01-2019, 08:45 AM	#12
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Apparently, it's been done. "Mid 1800s: According to the Encyclopedia of Antartica, small icebergs were towed from southern Chile up to Valparaiso as part of the brewery supply chain. A Chilean researcher said, "The icebergs were towed by ships of the conventional type. Sometimes the icebergs were supplied with sails to utilize the prevailing winds. The ice was used for refrigerating purposes in the breweries and was generally substituted for artificial ice." Apparently, the business continued until about the turn of the century." Beer is the mother of all innovation. https://www.theatlantic.com/technolo...chemes/243364/ __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

02-01-2019, 03:25 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	The century has turned twice since then. The bergs breaking off now seem to be miles long. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode