2007-01-22 01:13:40 · 13 answers · asked by mvimal83 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Beside the obvious elevation of sea level causing coastal flooding (anywhere from 10 to 100 miles inland), the increased water surface area and increased temperatures result in increased evaporation of water, increased cloud formation, increased rain and flooding, which will affect areas more generally than just at coastlines.
Over time as the cloud cover increases, the earth will heat up even more and eventually start to resemble Venus. (not as extreme) But current life will not survive those conditions, except maybe at the poles.
So plan for more than just a quicker trip to the beach.
2007-01-22 01:26:22 · answer #1 · answered by Lorenzo Steed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is impossible to have just one of the poles melt and not the other. Your question is as rediculous as these answers are.
If the poles melted - it would be a CATASTROPHE. The salinity balance in the oceans would change killing a large part of it - not to mention changing "current" patterns - which effect the weather and wind patterns.
There would be massive flooding thoughout the would, some countried would be lost.
I'm not sure man would survive it, but, we are capable of it, it would be our hardest challenge to date.
The Earth would have to do something with all that excess water so the first thing i would do is blanket the Earth with storms/hurricances and severe weather, until it could get it's poles back to where it wanted them - frozen at the apex of the earth.
2007-01-22 10:21:12 · answer #2 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Low lying areas will be inundated or become marshland. Other areas will get more rainfall and many creatures will move from the equatorial areas. Certain arctic species may be hard pressed but they seemed to have survived the last time it happened so I am not sure.
Generally though, many desert regions will become subtropical and rainfall will increase to make them more verdant. Other desert regions will be pushed further north. The Antarctic continent might become habitable and possible very fertile. All this will be the result of having more free fresh water available.
The climate is changing but it does not appear to be anything that has not happened before and all the creatures around us survived it the last couple dozen times it happened. as real scientists study and learn we will have more knowledge to supplant the pop science culture that is currently driving things. Then we will be able to make rational decisions.
2007-01-22 09:28:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Massive flooding will occur. The weather patterns will shift dramatically. Famine will occur in large parts of the world. Many animal spieces will go extinct.
2007-01-22 09:17:17 · answer #4 · answered by Isis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bad news is that the sea will rise 65 metres. That would cover vast amounts of land but not my house HAHA.
The good news is that nobody thinks that this will happen.
2007-01-22 09:23:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The USA mid-west will turn into one big lake or will that just be a bay off of the Gulf of Mexico.
2007-01-22 09:19:55 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ Cassie ♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the rising of the oceans would be the least of our problems, the earth's balance would be disrupted causing a catostrophic event earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the continents moving. this would cause 95% of all life to cease to exist.
2007-01-22 11:33:11 · answer #7 · answered by spongebobri 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thousands of people living near the coast will drown,i am glad i live in Leicester and not Skegness!
2007-01-22 09:26:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the wetlands increase the poor can homestead bayou areas again and live on gators and catfish? I'm ready...
2007-01-22 10:07:05 · answer #9 · answered by Gunny T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There will be a lot of coastal flooding. Better move inland
2007-01-22 09:16:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋