suppose global warming will cause sea levels to rise ten feet over the next two centuries. should we care?

Question

if we should care, how much and why?

Answer 1

nah as long as you know how to swim you 'll be fine.

Answer 2

If that's true, we should definitely care. Many coastal cities would be devastated by such a rise. And considering that human beings love to build cities on the coasts, that's kind of a big deal. Ten feet might not seem like much, but try imagining ten feet of water sloshing around the city where you live.

The question, of course, is whether the levels will actually rise that much, and whether the trend can be reversed before that happens.

Answer 3

Because even a few feet rise in sea level will cost rich countries an enormous amount of money. Moving people away from the coast, replacing things lost to flooding, etc. That will hurt the economy, and that will hurt you.

Poor countries are much worse off. There, coastal flooding will destroy much agricultural land, causing food shortages and starvation.

More details here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL052735320070407
http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM6avr07.pdf

Note that Jello is talking about one old mark on a rock, typical bad data from "skeptics". Scientists have measured sea level rises all over the world. Here's just one good satellite data set, with many observations.

http://sealevel.colorado.edu/

If anybody wants an idea of the relative scientific merit of the global warming scientists and the "skeptics", I'd love it if they checked Jello's reference, and mine. It's quite educational.

Answer 4

Notice how Bob responds with "Rich" countries. It shows his political bias, not to be picking on Bob (he is typical of many), but the politics of guilt and class envy is a tool of the left. Is it really the purpose of government to move people away from the coast or should people be responsible for where they build? If you let the government run this, it will really get messed up (Remember Katrina). We should be mildly concerned. It will cost some money and treasure but it is a very long time. It is extremely unlikely to happen in reality however.

Answer 5

Yes. Invest in in-land real estate and construction. Science cannot control nature forever.

But I doubt it would wipe out humanity. We are a pretty sturdy race, tolerant to a variety of temperatures. It is better to be warming than cooling, as plants are not as resilient as we are. We just need to protect agricultural centers from desertification.

Answer 6

Where are you going to be in 2207? I bet in the same place as me. We should care as we have or children and their children and so on to give a better world to. Look how far weve come in the last 200 years. What did we have back in 1807? Horse and buggy. Look what happened in the past 100 years, automobile, planes. trains, telephone computers electricity. Space travel. I could add a lot more and babble on my my frozen TV dinner is almost ready. There is a lot coming in medicine and space we can't even dream about. We should care a lot

Answer 7

Better question = Why do people continue to rebuild in 'flood zones' near rivers after a flood?
The same answers will apply to increased sea levels - IF IT HAPPENS! They will just build where they want to and disregard nature.

Answer 8

I don't care. I live several thousand feet above sea level.

Answer 9

Especially if you live anywhere near the coast or on an Island.

Answer 10

Why do you think this statement would even be true?

What would you think if you discovered that the sea levels are lower today than they were 160 years ago?

http://www.john-daly.com/deadisle/index.htm

Answer 11

Hey Rick!Check out who's in your "fan" club.You have 1981 reasons to block a certain "fan" of yours!