Effects of Global Warming on Sea Levels

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All evidence suggests that global warming is directly responsible for the highest recorded temperatures in over ten years. And if things continue at the present rate, our fossil fuel consumption indicates that the carbon dioxide content of the air will double by 2100. This will enhance the greenhouse effect causing a 1 to 5 degree Centigrade increase temperatures.

The worst affected areas the higher latitudes, previously, climate change has always affected the earth's Polar Regions. Humidity will exacerbate warming effects. Already there is more CO2 in our atmosphere than ever before in human history

The effect of global warming on our sea levels is alarming with sea level rises that have altered shorelines and many glaciers are melting. This combination is causing many island nations to lose valuable land to the sea.

The rise in sea levels can be attributed to two factors. The first one being the extra water going into the sea as the ice melts, from glaciers and polar icecaps. Already, we see that there is substantial melting of glaciers on 5 continents. At the present rate the ice cap on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro will be gone in around twenty years. Large Antarctic ice sheets have already broken off and melted into the sea and ice in the Arctic Ocean is thinning at an alarming rate.

Second, as water temperatures in our oceans rise and water becomes less dense, the oceans will spread and cover more of the surface of the planet. During the 20th century, sea levels have risen dramatically at a rate of 1 to 2 mm per year. Many coastlines are experiencing 1 mm rises in sea levels, which ultimately cause 1.5 mm retreat of shore lines. This is especially evident in the flatter coastlines or those that border fertile river deltas.

At the present rate, many of the low lying islands in the Pacific Ocean will be inundated or will suffer serious problems such as fresh water contamination and the damaging of essential food crops. An example of this would be a 1 meter rise in sea level would cover at least half of the rice growing areas of Bangladesh and this would force the migration of millions. Other areas that would be flooded include Viet Nam, China, India and Thailand, among others. Estimates for rising sea water suggest that sea levels may rise by 9 to 88cm by 2100 with catastrophic results.

Slowing global warming is of concern to everyone. We must all help reduce the amount of dangerous greenhouse gases released in to our atmosphere by cutting down our usage of fossil fuels. We can do this by looking at more effective ways of heating and cooling our homes, using more efficient appliances, choosing fluorescent light bulbs, etc. In the longer term, research is being carried out as to the use of alternative sources of energy for our future use, with many individuals and business already switching to energy sources such as Solar Power.

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