2007-10-27 05:20:10 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Global Warming
And your point being?
2007-10-27 05:28:01 · answer #1 · answered by Kelly L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I lived in London for a time in the 1980's and studied climatology at UCL. They'd just finished building the barrier and although global warming was known about and taught to us (it's been known about for over 100 years) the barrier was build more for other reasons.
It had been known for a long time that sea levels were rising and the Thames Barrier was constructed with this in mind - hence it was built higher than was needed at the time. The main reason for constructing the barrier was to protect London from storm surges.
In 1953 a storm surge swept down the east coast of England and drowned many people, particularly in Norfolk and Canvey Island (Essex). The authorities were worried that if a similar storm surge were to make it's way up the Thames it would flood large parts of London.
Back in the 80's when the barrier was built it was expected to protect London from adverse tides for 100 years. Because sea levels are rising faster than expected the government are looking at replacing the barrier much earlier, possibly as soon as the 2020's.
2007-10-27 13:13:30 · answer #2 · answered by Trevor 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not likely to have happened. Back then global warming was a theory from a few scientists, with only a little data.
Now, of course, it's scientific fact, backed by a huge amount of data, and accepted by the vast majority of all scientists.
So, building the barrier may have been done because of weather (storms), but it will be useful in dealing with climate change.
It won't be good enough unless we do something about greenhouse gases, though.
2007-10-27 12:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by Bob 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think It was built to deal with storm surges combining with high tides blowing up the Thames.
2007-10-27 13:01:09 · answer #4 · answered by John Sol 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At that time it was probably called The Greenhouse Effect but new "politically correct/scientifically incorrect" names have come along since then. Doesn't change anything.
2007-10-27 15:39:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No `cos they didn`t have a war to pay for then..
In other words at that time "Global warming" wasn`t seen as a way of introducing extra taxes.
2007-10-27 12:28:38 · answer #6 · answered by Spanner 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
... Um, well, anthropogenic global warming theory has been around since the late nineteenth century, so I guess probably people do. Why do you ask?
2007-10-27 12:29:32 · answer #7 · answered by SomeGuy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what the **** is your point ?? ?!?!
2007-10-30 14:22:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋