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goatharper t1_ixay9th wrote

Strictly speaking, yes, but the expansion of water with temperature is so small that for all practical purposes the effect is negligible.

https://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/javascript/water-density.html

The densest possible liquid water is 4% denser than water a degree short of boiling. In living organisms, the difference will be far less.

So "negligible" is le mot juste I think.

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m4rc0n3 t1_ixb2v9n wrote

I wouldn't call 4% negligible. And even with only a small temperature increase, thermal expansion is a major factor in sea level rise according to https://sealevel.nasa.gov/understanding-sea-level/global-sea-level/thermal-expansion

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jellyfixh t1_ixb5pve wrote

Keep in mind that for sea creatures their bodies are made largely of water and usually have body temperatures a few degrees above ambient so they would expand as well albeit not as much.

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SBreacher t1_ixbmfqy wrote

I can vouch for that. As a former competitive swimmer the water temperature has a meaningful impact on buoyancy and viscocity. Warmer water always negatively affected the "grip" you had on it.

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Chemomechanics t1_ixbqxcm wrote

> As a former competitive swimmer the water temperature has a meaningful impact on buoyancy

This part strains credulity. How were you able to gauge a <0.5% difference in buoyancy?

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