[mekrob]

The recent discussions about global warming and the expected rise in sea levels got some questions buzzing around in my head. Naturally, the sea levels wouldn't stay as "high" forever and would retreat after a while (not sure of any ranges actually). But after they retreat, would the soil that the waters had 'briefly' been over be more or less friendly to vegetation?

Natural flooding is good for the soil because it replenishes the soil with nutrients. But would salt water have the same beneficial effects or would they be the opposite?

[Lore]

That would depend on how much of the submerged soils nutrients were leached out of the sediment over time.

You may have to wait one full turn of the Milankovich cycle that controlled the ice ages before water is recaptured again as ice. This can be anywhere from 22,000 to 100,000 years, give or take, minus man's influence.

[strider3700]

Lands flooded by the ocean could end up very high in Salt content when they dry out again. It takes a very long time for this to be leached out and back into the oceans.

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('strider3700', 'L')ands flooded by the ocean could end up very high in Salt content when they dry out again. It takes a very long time for this to be leached out and back into the oceans.

[Plantagenet]

Small areas of land are rising up out of the ocean right in Juneau, Glacier Bay and parts of SE Alaska where glaciers have retreated enough to "unload" the crust and allow isostatic rebound and uplift.

As much as 10-20 feet of uplift has occurred in some areas in Glacier Bay.

The uplifted land already has trees on it.

Some friends of mine studied this and found that it only takes a few decades for plants and trees to become established on this newly uplifted land.

[Newsseeker]

Rome salted the ground at Carthage so nothing could grow and I can't imagine that salt water would be good for the soil.

[katkinkate]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('strider3700', 'L')ands flooded by the ocean could end up very high in Salt content when they dry out again. It takes a very long time for this to be leached out and back into the oceans.

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Not really. The rain will wash out the top layers over only a few years. Of course deeper soils will take longer... also if there isn't much rain.

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mekrob', ' ')I'm debating whether or not it's better for the Earth and the future of life for global warming, and the subsequent rise in sea levels, to occur or not.