[DLWormwood]

The first thing I thought when I saw is image was that I would love to see an animation of the sphere collapsing and refilling the oceans, etc. Assuming the animation simulated actual gravity and water fluid dynamics, I wonder how long it would take and what it would look like? (That is, the initial reflooding, reforming of rivers, clouds and ice caps, and so on.)

[kijin]

A realistic animation would not be pretty. Actual gravity will not allow the Earth's solid surface to stay where it is while you dump water on it.

Imagine what would happen if you dropped an 800-mile water balloon in the middle of Kansas. I'd be surprised if the North American plate didn't break up into several pieces under the weight of all that water. You'll probably get supersized volcanoes erupting all over the world due to the sudden stress on the crust. The volcanoes would then be extinguished by the megatsunami from the ball of water, causing massive steam explosions. One thing is certain: There won't be a Mississippi River anymore. Not sure about ice caps, that could take a few millennia.

Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich are going to love this.

[kaj_sotala]

I have to disagree with your assertion that this animation wouldn't be pretty.

[rudiger]

Obviously, the animation would have to assume the Earth were a rigid body.

[jmah]

See "The Wettening", an Invader Zim episode.