One thing that still escapes me is why the threat of rising sea levels is being so heavily attributed to global warming. Whilst I understand that a global increase in temperature will result in melting of ice caps, surely the resultant extra liquid water will be counteracted by the reduced area occupied by the frozen ice cap? Water expands as it freezes, so although a large mass of ice will melt, it will in theory take up less volume?
Are sea levels going to rise as dramatically as some predict, or are the effects going to be much more subtle?
The reason the mean Sea Level rises as the polar ice caps melt is for the reason: Ice floats. Let me explain. first, over 1/3 of an ice mass will remain Above the water’s surface; therefore, this mass cannot be included in the water displacement. Also, expansion of water as it changes state to ice is not a dominating factor in mass1/mass2 ratio. In other words, the mass below the water’s suface simply cancils itself from one state to the next. It is, however, the mass above the water’s surface that contributes to the rising water levels, being that displacement only deals with surface AREA, and not MASS.
I totally agree, but I don’t think that the sea level rise is as big of an issue as the massive introduction of cold fresh water into the the ocean currents.
I really think that with the introduction of this cold fresh water will change the currents and cause some very strange and unusual weather patters. Its these weather patters that will apparently have a much great effect on us than the rises in sea levels.
Im sure our cities will react and adapt to the water rising, just as Venice in Italy.
I still can’t imagine rowing to work rather than taking the car though I’m afraid!
Perhaps the biggest problem is the lack of clarity in information. I don’t know all the facts and consequences of global warming and I’m sure many others don’t. If Governments would take this issue more seriously and focus on informing rather than slapping taxes on anything polluting, I’m sure many more people would make an effort.
Take the recent air tax in the UK - Instead of a campaign to inform passengers that they can cut their emissions by xx% by taking the train instead of flying, the UK Government simply slapped another tax on air travel and said it was for the good of the planet.
Neither do i ! And you are right to say that information is limping instead of running amongst us ! :(
Very interesting dbm ! thank you for the scientific view upon the matter ! :mrgreen:
I think that this is something people don’t take seriously because it’s not something we immediately see out our windows as result of climate change. Everyone imagines the ocean as a unimaginably huge, and to think that it will rise a couple of inches…it sounds so miniscule that the everyday man hardly takes the matter seriously.
I wish that there were a more visual campaign offered to people that would help put it all inperspective to the masses.
There always has been and probably always will be a debate about weather or not we have anything to do with global warming.
In my opinion, it is dumb to think that we do not affect the planet. If anyone lives near a large city, you can actually see, taste and smell exactly what we do to the planet. Im talking about pollution/smog which is something no one can argue.
Pollution is not a natural cycle of the earth and it only started appearing after the industrial revolution. Which also happens to be the time when we began burning more fosil fuel than ever before… coincidence?
I dont think so…
Earths temperatures are higher than ever before and those temps began rising drastically after the industrial revolution… Coincidence?
I didn’t said that man has no fautl in all this. What i meant to say was about the Ice age. the planet’s course and the destination point toward the planet’s conditions are heading to. Is it possible another ice age and is the man the one to cause it? that is what i meant to ask!
Of course we are the cause of many things. especially bad things. if i think a little better only bad things, beacause all man did was to comfort himself and to have better conditions to live not thinking about consequences.
Gianni
i am happy that in our country the government thought it will be a very good idea with all this global warming to start teaching the kids about protecting the environment. i don’t know what the government gets from this but at least is a good thing. probably every country has it and it’s a miracle that things started moving in romania too. it’s the best decision this country took since 23 august 1944 .
I am also not sure that the increase in sea levels is going to be the biggest problem as already outlined here, however, I think that it will be a BIG problem if we have to relocate entire cities to higher ground.
Ultimately the salinity balance of the sea and of the rivers and streams within the ocean is very delicate and it is this that will suffer. Additionally, the lack of white, reflective surfaces, bouncing sunlight back from the planet may speed the increase in global warming, and so speed the cycle towards its climax.
However it’s going to work out, I think I’ll just stay away from buying any ocean front property any time soon. I know there are places here in Nova Scotia where what used to be a pasture is now under water. So either we’re sinking, or the water’s rising, and the end result is the same.
Global warming is increasing day by day Because of increasing pollution and industrial development.So we need to care of and have to control the pollution.
No one in this world is unaware about the fact of increasing Global Warming, which is caused by various activity such as volcanic eruptions, house burning, pollution resulting in the increasing level of water bodies. Every one should try to take proper measures such as plant trees for preventing Global warming before its too late.
We can now feel the change happening in the environment and the climate and it’s somewhat frightening. And I do believe that each of us contributed to such change either through smoke belching, throwing plastics and a load of many others. We can do something and that’s by acting now, recycling and the like. One small wee act that’s pro-environment already has a great effect.
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Bay Shore Systems specializing in foundation drilling equipment.
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I know there are places here in Nova Scotia where what used to be a pasture is now under water. So either we’re sinking, or the water’s rising, and the end result is the same.
