Global warming question?

Question

The ice caps have been melting for a while, not sure how long. Have all (global) coast lines been rising year after year? Or is it so gradual that we don't notice with the naked eye, for example an inch a year?

Answer 1

Sea levels are currently rising somewhere on the order of 3 millimeters per year.

Answer 2

I don't think that rising sea levels is the problem.

I also don't think that humans contribute to the overall climate like some do. We may tip the bucket a little, yes.

I do, however, believe that the earth is getting warmer.

The harm that this will cause is unpredictable, at best, but it will do something. The deal is how individual ecosystems will react to the climat echange. Right now, humans are dependant on certain ecosystems to be in very certain places. Will we be able to adapt to their changing? Probably. But it is something that will likely need to be addressed by our grandchildren.

If all of the ice on the earth did melt, the sea levels would rise. Maybe that is 200 years away, maybe never. But, If it rises a foot or two in that time span, just think of all those cities that will be flooded. Its not the average sea level that would flood the cities- it is the higher tides, the storm surges, and such.

People that think in absolutes- politically left and right- are all missing the point. Al Gore might be all wrong, or he may be a little wrong. Hannity and O'Reilly might be all wrong or a little wrong. Just like in politics, the right answer is probably somewhere in the middle.

Politicizing something as dynamic and misunderstood as this is the definition of ignarance in my book.

Answer 3

South Shore Hospital, LI, NY is about two floors below sea level. There is a series of barrier beaches with tidal bays that enable this phenomena. One good storm that breeches the barrier dunes could be devastating for most of the south shore of Long Island, NY. I'm sure this is true for most of the east coast of the US. SC.NC.Va.Del.Md.NJ.Ma., they all have barrier beaches that protect the inland town and cities, and some are at or below sea level.

Answer 4

In the south pole Regen every thing is freezing with temperatures approaching -50 deg. The north pole region is mostly floating ice so only 1/5 of the ice shows. With it like this if all this melted it would occupy less space than it did frozen . So how was this supposed to cause the ocean to rise. I don't think so.

Answer 5

The ice caps have been melting for about 20,000 years and sea level has gone up about 200 feet. Right not it's about an inch a century

Answer 6

Well, you have coast lines rising because the caps are melting, but you have those water levels that are lowering because the Earth is warming, hence, evaporation.

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Answer 7

Not all have risen. Some have fallen, especially in the Southern hemisphere. I believe the average rise is 3-4 mm a year.

Answer 8

Dana is right about 3mm/year right now.

The thing is, ten years ago it was about 1mm/year. It's accelerating unusually rapidly.

Things will happen slowly, but that doesn't change how severe they will get over time. If we do nothing we'll spend huge sums of money relocating people and replacing immovable stuff we lose. It would be far better to slow the process down. Here's the plan:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,481085,00.html

http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM040507.pdf

Answer 9

lol a millameter a year! oh that is priceless. coupled with 1 degree temperature every 100 years. wow this can get serious very fast. I better start moving inland now! Does anyone else see how stupid this all sounds? Lets get all the snails off the beach, don't want them to get out run by the rising tide!

Answer 10

Gene is correct. Those that fret over rising sea levels are either being disingenuous, ignorant, or trying to scare people for ulterior motives, generally of the political left.