Jonathan Thanks for writing. You open lots of big questions. I'm aware of work in the scientific literature that addresses some of them. Mostly the ones that have to do with volcanic eruptions - because that's the corner of geology I know best. For instance, there has been detailed investigation of the eruptive history of Santorini compared with sea level changes caused by major glacial episodes over the past few million years. And there is some discussion of the volcanic response in Iceland to unweighting of the land after the Pleistocene ice cap retreated. I think I see a change in magma flux at one Alaskan volcano at the end of the Pleistocene, but most of my colleagues are not convinced. The difference in ice distribution between the last glacial maximum (~10 to 15,000 years ago)and now is much larger than anything that can be imagined in the near future, I think, because there was so much more ice in the Pleistocene than there is now. Sea level rise at the Pleistocene / Holocene boundary was about 450 feet (140 meters). Have you looked for the sorts of signals you predict at the end of the Pleistocene? That might be a good validation. Most people that have considered the tectonic effect of sea level rise have looked at vertical forces. I think you imply that you anticipate some horizontal forces, but I'm having a hard time imagining the physics behind that. Also, remember that as heavy as water is, it's only a quarter to a third as dense as rock. Also remember that the earth's crust flexes when mass is loaded, so that the gravitational potential of the surface averages out. For instance, the huge point load of the island of Hawaii has caused the surrounding floor of the ocean to bow down in response. Thanks again Chris -------- JONATHAN BARDSLEY wrote: 08:05 16/10/2012 Global warming is helping to melt earths ice-caps which is causing the sea levels to rise. This is moving mass weight which is creating different pressures on different areas of the tectonic plates. The different pressures would have an effect on the tectonic plates and move them which is what causes earthquakes and volcanoes. The pacific ocean is vast, if the sea level raised by a foot, could you imagine how much extra weight would be pushing down on the tectonic plates in that area with how heavy water is, it has to be effecting the tectonic plates. Its probable the reason the ring of fire surrounds the pacific ocean. This is not the only possible danger from global warming. Scientists know the earths axis tilts which is the cause of the ice-age, but the cause of the tilt is unknown. The sun and moon effects earth by pulling earths oceans so there is a powerful gravitational pull on earth. The pole's ice-caps would be like weights on a set of scales and if one of these weights were to disappear, the other would become heavier to the aliened gravitational pull of the sun and moon. North pole ice-cap is in the ocean, there is salt in the ocean which raises the temperature, this would help to melt the ice a lot quicker than the south pole ice-cap. The south pole ice-cap is on land and the salt in the ocean wouldn't have any effect on the ice. This would mean the north pole ice would melt and disappear a lot sooner than the south pole ice, which would mean the south pole would become heavier to the aliened sun and moon gravitational pull. The south pole would be pulled towards the sun and moon while at the same time the north would tilt away. This would cause the next ice-age. The build up of ice at the north pole and the melting of the ice at the south pole with it being closer to the sun now, would be extremely fast, this is mass weight moving about in a short period of time. This would cause bigger earthquakes and volcano's and would be more frequent. I have put a lot of thought into this theory and everything could react in the way I have said. I also believe earths oceans help to keep the earth balance. Reasons to support theory, California fault line, the west side is moving north and I would say the extra weight from the rise of the sea levels at the equator would push on the west side of the fault line. I also believe India is being pushed north by the Indian ocean, and causing the mounting range were mount Everist is, to be unstable and is the cause of the rasing of Tubet . If you was to look at earths oceans and imagin that extra weight is pushing on the tectonic plates and which way these plates are being pushed, you should see it all fit. I would love to work on this with your help. Thank You Jonathan Micheal Bardsley