If global warming were to occur how rapidly would the effects take place?

Question

I've seen Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth. For the most part I find his argument very convincing. It's very hard to argue with those graphs showing the correlation of CO2 levels vs Temp levels over the course of time. Gore seems to suggest that the effects of global warming would effect the world almost in an instant - giving us little time to react to the changes... Im curious as to whether or not this is correct? Why wouldn't the sea level changes have a more slow onset - in which we could notice the problem and adjust accordingly?

Answer 1

Very convincing? I guess you haven't read this article:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/450392,CST-EDT-REF30b.article

A couple of your questions - about sea level for one. Even the IPCC with a vested interest to make the case for global warming has said in their latest report that sea rise will be no more than 2 feet over the next 100 years, and as little as 8 inches...yeah, this isn't going to sneak up on anyone.

The other concerns the correlation between CO2 and temperature comparing recent trends with those ranging back thousands of years. These are apples and oranges comparisons. Todays measurements of CO2 are direct ( or rather, wighted sampling of actual measurements) while past "measurements" are indirect and extrapolated, with computer modeling utilized to help smooth out the natural curves. We cannot make a valid correlation when two VERY disparate methodologies are used.

Answer 2

It won't happen instantaneously, or even as quick as Al Gore seems to indicate. But the difference between the average temperature of the earth during the last Ice Age was only a few degrees, and that temperature has increased about 1 degree over the past 100 years ... so I don't know maybe in a few hundred years there will be a catastrophic change.

Answer 3

It is Ocuring as we speak, listen to the peoples reports on the weather ,And having seen wide spread desertification in Africa and Mexico,I tend to believe it

Each year the Sun especially around the equator seems to be hotter ,few people spend a lot of time in the sun with out sun block
Ten years ago i was fully exposed for the complete day ,but not anymore

Each year about 150.000 people die related to Global warming one way or an other ,

In 2003 ,3500 people died in Europe alone

Watershortage is a fact ,so is 10% croploss with 1 degree increase in temperature

only a few centimeters rise in Ocean levels ,can cause thousands of hectares to be lost

3000 animals have become exstinct in the last 50 years
A lot of them because of loss of habitats

But many also because of temperature changes,and species died out in the insect and plant world , which in turn affected food chains and caused dependant species to disappear

What we can expect , is that the effects speed up as time goes on and Global Warming gathers momentum

but dont quote me
lets wait and see
Meanwhile try to be good to the Earth ,
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApYv8CBNTGqNQfkJIns0ti3sy6IX?qid=20070614211134AAzIyYY
if you love your planet and want to enjoy it as long as possible
When the ***t hits the fan if i am still alive by then ,it will be time for a big party

Answer 4

Which effect are you trying to point at?

If you are referring to the change in the water level, it would not probably take effect in an instant.

Answer 5

You still have several million years before anything bdd happens, so plenty of time for you to watch stupid documentaries and ask more questions from real experts here on Yahoo.

Answer 6

The effects can not be altered in a year, the damage that has been done is going to take three or four generations. The worse we let it get the longer it will take to fix, and the less likely it will be that it can be fixed.

Answer 7

2 days before the day after tommorow

Answer 8

good point, since al gore is know for his nobel prize resulting form his extensive study of the earths atmosphere. i think everyone should take his opinion.

Answer 9

What is most convincing is that he's in it for the money! lol

Answer 10

the earth would be over heated.