ecoli Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 http://www.climate%20data%20hint%20at%20irreversible%20rise%20in%20seas.com/ In the next 100 year, global average temperatures could be as much as four degrees higher, translating into a sea level rise of 13-20 feet. The rise would be caused by eroding polar ice caps the damage which, according to computer models, is irreversible. Such conditions haven't been seen on earth science 300 thousand years ago, when Earth was between to two ice ages. By not curbing our production of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses we are essentially endangering our coastlines, where some of the worlds largest cities are. Sea levels have been rising for thousands of years as an aftereffect of the warming and polar melting that followed the last ice age, which ended about 10,000 years ago. Discriminating between that residual effect and any new influence from human actions remains impossible for the moment, many experts say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcol Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 http://www.climate%20data%20hint%20at%20irreversible%20rise%20in%20seas.com/ In the next 100 year' date=' global average temperatures could be as much as four degrees higher, translating into a sea level rise of 13-20 feet. The rise would be caused by eroding polar ice caps the damage which, according to computer models, is irreversible. Such conditions haven't been seen on earth science 300 thousand years ago, when Earth was between to two ice ages. By not curbing our production of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses we are essentially endangering our coastlines, where some of the worlds largest cities are.[/quote'] Whether it is a natural cycle which since the industrial revolution we have been accelerating, or which will happen anyway is debatable. What should be exercising our minds, with science to the forefront, is how we can mitigate the effects of the "diaster". In your case, living on Long Island, I suggest you buy a big boat or start a self-sufficiency commune on Mt. Arrarat, or in the long term evolve to have gills. . Crossbreed with a mermaid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herpguy Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 This is no big news to me. We've known this for a while now. To save the big cities, perhaps building a giant sea wall. It's complicated and expensive, but nothing compared to what could happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecoli Posted March 27, 2006 Author Share Posted March 27, 2006 This is no big news to me. We've known this for a while now. except that we seem to be reaching a critical, "event horizon" of climate change. To save the big cities, perhaps building a giant sea wall. It's complicated and expensive, but nothing compared to what could happen. Sea walls don't really work, water can erode underneath them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzurePhoenix Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 To save the big cities, perhaps building a giant sea wall. It's complicated and expensive, but nothing compared to what could happen. Not very practical, or not at all when you consider the sheer extent of the rising waters. Say you do build a big wall around each "victim city" strong enough to hold back the water. What then? It'd basically be surrounded on all sides by water and would sit below sea-level. It's just not practical. When the time comes, people will just have to move, or grow gills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecoli Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 Not very practical, or not at all when you consider the sheer extent of the rising waters. Say you do build a big wall around each "victim city" strong enough to hold back the water. What then? It'd basically be surrounded on all sides by water and would sit below[/i'] sea-level. It's just not practical. When the time comes, people will just have to move, or grow gills. The latter seems attractive to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herpguy Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Good points with the sea wall ecoli and AzurePheonix. Hmm... It's hard to think of plausable ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecoli Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 Good points with the sea wall ecoli and AzurePheonix. Hmm... It's hard to think of plausable ideas. How about we limit CO2 emmisions right NOW. Oh wait... that's hard to do when our own President is dening the evidence in front of his face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herpguy Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 How about we limit CO2 emmisions right NOW. Oh wait... that's hard to do when our own President is dening the evidence in front of his face. Even if our president wasn't a total idiot, ending all CO2 emissions now wouldn't stop the warming for another 400 years (says an article I read a while back). So we would also have to clean up the atmosphere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 How about we limit CO2 emmisions right NOW. Oh wait... that's hard to do when our own President is dening the evidence in front of his face. Perhaps you would realize that he isn't the one making the laws, Congress does that. He only decides if they should be implemented, and he hasn't vetoed anything yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bascule Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Oh boy, time to nitpick at everyone's terminology What should be exercising our minds, with science to the forefront, is how we can mitigate the effects of the "diaster". Yes, the focus should be on identifying and seeking solutions to climate vulnerabilities. To save the big cities, perhaps building a giant sea wall. It's complicated and expensive, but nothing compared to what could happen. That's not exactly a solution for a country like Tuvalu that sits only slightly above sea level. except that we seem to be reaching a critical, "event horizon" of climate change. I believe the phrase you're looking for is "tipping point" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bascule Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 How about we limit CO2 emmisions right NOW. Oh wait... that's hard to do when our own President is dening the evidence in front of his face. That's not a solution either. The Kyoto Protocol will only bring about a change in global mean surface temperatures which is less than the precision to which global mean surface temperatures can presently be assessed. The effect of limiting CO2 output is negligable. The solution, in my mind, is a collective effort by all nations on earth to identify and correct regional anthropogenic forcings, the "if everyone does a little we can do a lot" philosophy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bascule Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Salon had a story on Tuvalu today, I guess: Tuvalu is drowning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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