Is it just me, or is the issue of global warming cooling down?
Yesterday a massive chunk of ice, 7 times the size of Manhattan fell into the waters off of the Wilkins ice shelf on the western side of Antactica. The 1,500 year old ice that broke off into the ocean exposed ancient glaciers directly to ocean waters.
Seth Borenstein of the Associated Press reported that, "The event is another impact of global warming on the Antarctic environment, scientists said. The rest of the Wilkins ice shelf, which is about the size of Connecticut, is holding on by a narrow beam of thin ice which is also in danger of falling apart."
Antartica is the continent that spans across the south pole. This means that it is subject to more sun during the winter months of the northern hemisphere, while the north pole/Arctic recieves more sun during the summer.
In recent years, The North pole has been subject to various studies that have SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN the causes and effects of global warming. The seemingly catastrophic effects include a rise in ocean levels, as well as warmer oceans which makes for harsher weather. This increase in the strength of storms has been evident during the past 3 years, with the Indonesian Tsunami, Hurrican Katrina/Rita, numerous landslides, and the recent barrage of Ice, and water on the midwest. If you combine the casualties of storms in the past 5 years, it would total over 300,000. We have only had about 4,000 deaths in Iraq.
In related news, low lying coastal cities across the world are trying to figure out how to battle the rising ocean waters. A study by a Spanish Oceanography group has uncovered alarming details about the trends of rising oceans. They reported, "that sea temperatures had also risen significantly by 0.12 to 0.5C since the 1970s".
"Sea level rise is a key effect of global climate change. There are two major contributory effects: the melting of ice, and expansion of sea water as the oceans warm. Last month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said the world's sea levels would rise by a maximum of 59cm this century."
Here are some recent (summer 2007) reports of flooding already becoming a major problem.
China: Worst Floods in 50 Years. 120 Million People Affected - As of 17 August (update), more than 120 million have been affected by floods since mid-June. An estimated five million people have been left homeless, with more than 1000 reported dead or missing.
India: Millions Displaced by Floods - As of 23 July, heavy rains and landslides have displaced more than eight million people since the start of this year's monsoon season in June.
Philippines: 8 dead in floods and landslides from Tropical depression Lekima. 2,000 displaced.
Vietnam: - Typhoon Lekima makes landfall in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces on October 3. 2 dead. 400,000 evacuated ahead of the storm.
Mexico: floods and mudslides. Rivers 21 feet above usual levels. 30,000 displaced in Veracruz. Thousands evcuated in Pueble state.
Brazil: Five days of torrential rain flood 58 cities and towns in Rio Grande do Sul. 4 dead. 4,000 evacuated.
Algeria: Violent storms and flash floods kill 18. Houses collapsed. A number of towns and villages isolated. tens of hectares crops destroyed. Bridges destroyed.
Bangladesh: Second round of floods affects the country - As of 19 September, more than 1 million people have been evacuated or are stranded as major rivers have risen due to torrential rains over the country.
Ghana: More than 260,000 people affected by floods, access problems
Uganda: Thousands displaced by renewed flooding.
Ethiopia: 136,000 affected, 36,000 displaced by floods thus far.
Myanmar: Tens of thousands of people displaced by flooding
East Africa: Hundreds of Thousands Displaced in Uganda, Kenya and Sudan
Philippines: Typhoon Sepat affects hundreds of thousands.
The numbers speak for themselves, but a picture is worth a thousand words.
The red areas will basically be flooded by the ocean in the next 150 years
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Phew--Pennsylvania's safe. Alright, I'm kidding...I'm not that selfish.
Very informative entry and I love the inclusion of the map pics. Instead of just hearing about the ice shelf, I can see it for myself. That really helped out your entry and made Global Warming seem important again.
But what can we do about global warming? I heard a theory that was pretty scary. A future generation may have to live their lives in darkness in order to give the planet some time to cool down. They would literally have to block off the sun from the earth. Creepy, huh?
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yeah....I think that we cannot avoid the negative consequences of global warming anymore. Future generations will definitely need to find an alternative fuel source.
I think a way to avoid massive flooding would be if the Government began investing in salt water refineries. They would basically filter out the salt and organisms making ocean water drinkable. So we could slowly remove water from the ocean and try to keep oceans at livable levels.
"my first name must be, "He aint sh@t", cause everytime I come through, yall be like "He aint sh@t"!....I'll be dat" --Redman
"Anything that can go wrong, Will go wrong"----Murphy's Law
I went cave diving in a ceynote in Mexico. Ceynotes are essentially sinkholes that are connected together by acquifers that are brackish (fresh and salt water mixed) because they ebb and flow with the tides. The guide pointed out a cooking hearthsthat was 80 feet underwater. Obviously at some point in human history the sea level was much lower and people lived in these caves.
The sea level rises and the sea falls. No big deal. Humans will adapt.
I live on high ground. I don't know and I won't miss those people living in the lowlands. The climate here in Wyoming would be a lot nicer if it were a little warmer and we would produce a lot less greenhouse gases if we didn't have to burn so much fuel to heat our homes.
I think your predictions about flooding are way overblown. It is starting to look like global warming stalled about a decade ago.
you are right....the ocean rises and falls naturally...however since 1970 the ocean has begun to rise relatively quicker than normal.......This, coupled with glaciers melting away into the ocean, as well as the alarming rise in global temperature over the past 17 years is reason to believe that there is a connection.
Usually, it would be natural for the ocean to rise, but when you throw in the fact that temperatures are rising, including the oceans sub-currents, its alarming.
"my first name must be, "He aint sh@t", cause everytime I come through, yall be like "He aint sh@t"!....I'll be dat" --Redman
"Anything that can go wrong, Will go wrong"----Murphy's Law
I understand the concept, but when I am experiencing the coldest winter in the past ten years here in Texas. Then global warming starts to look a wee bit blown out of proportion.
Well, global warming isn't exactly a literal term. It means the temperatures and climates are vastly changing in different places. Whether that be cold or hot, it is an impact of global warming.
Après la pluie le beau temps. ♥
I know, but still...
Its warming if its warming. Its warming if its cooling. If there are lots of hurricanes it is a function of global warming. If there are unusually few hurricanes it is the result of global warming.
The green house theory is pretty clear. More carbon dioxide equals more warmth. The problem is that for the last 10 years carbon dioxide has been rising steadily and the theory seems to be proving itself wrong because the science is starting to come in that there has been very little or no warming for the last decade.
Rather than admit the theory is wrong, global warming has been morphed into "climate change".
It has nothing to do with global catastrophe and everything to do with global taxes and global socialist control.
Global climate change is the term i think some scientists are beginning to use.
it basically means that warmer temperatures are attached to higher pressures in the atmosphere, and colder temperatures are attached to low pressure.
The jet stream this year has fallen lower than usual, dipping below parts of Texas, and in turn exposing your area to lower pressures, and colder temperatures.
I know here in Washington d.c., where I live, we have experienced 60's one day, and 20's the next. We happen to lie directly in the path of the jet stream. So on high pressure days it tends to either storm, or its calm and hot outside, and on low pressure days its usually cold and windy.
"my first name must be, "He aint sh@t", cause everytime I come through, yall be like "He aint sh@t"!....I'll be dat" --Redman
"Anything that can go wrong, Will go wrong"----Murphy's Law