Final answer:
To find the estimated sea level rise if all Antarctic ice melted, we divide the total ice volume by the area of the world's oceans. The result, approximately 83 meters, represents the potential increase in sea level height.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate the increase in sea level, h, if all the Antarctic ice melted, we use the given total volume of Antarctic ice and the area of the world's oceans. The density of the ice is relevant because it determines the amount of water that will be obtained once the ice melts. Given that the density of snow and fresh water is 0.92 g/cm³ and 1.0 g/cm³, respectively, we understand that the volume of fresh water obtained from melting ice will be roughly the same as the ice's volume, since the density values are close.
The total volume of Antarctic ice is about 3.01 × 10²20 km³. Converting this to meters³ (since 1 km³ = 10²9 m³), we get 3.01 × 10²29 m³. We divide this by the area of the world's oceans, which is 3.62 × 10³14 m² (Remember: 1 km² = 10²6 m²) to find the estimated height increase, h.
Calculating, h = 3.01 × 10²29 m³ / 3.62 × 10³14 m² = 8.33 × 10²14 m. Converting this to meters, we find that h ≈ 83 meters (since 1 m = 10² cm).