No matter what happens, sea levels and temperatures are going to rise over the next century, according to a pair of reports out of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Global warming will likely cause the sea level to rise by about 25cm, or close to a foot, by 2100, while average temperatures will rise by at least a half degree Celsius, according to Tom Wigley , a researcher at the agency and an author of one of the studies released today. Researcher Gerald Meehl wrote the other. Wigley added that global warming is caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere by human activity. Even if humans stopped pouring greenhouse gases into the atmosphere today, sea levels will rise by 11 centimeters (about 4 inches) over the next century at a minimum, the studies predicted. "That is an extreme lower bound of what might happen," Wigley said. "More likely, the sea level rise will be considerably greater." A worst-case scenario predicts a 30-centimeter rise in sea level and a world temperature rise of 3.5 degrees Celsius. Worldwide sea levels rose by 5 centimeters in the 20th century, when human-induced global warming began to be tracked. The inevitable nature of climate change comes as a result of two factors: the long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the fact that water heats and cools more slowly than air.

Carbon dioxide, which is increasing in the atmosphere, traps sunlight, which then heats the ocean, which in turn rises and expands. While Northern Europe and the United States would be able to adapt to a 25-centimeter rise in sea level, poor countries in coastal areas could face huge problems. Bangladesh, for instance, is sandwiched between the snow melt from the Himalayas and tropical storms from the Bay of Bengal. Elevated temperatures and sea levels could dramatically increase the impact of storms.

View: Full Article | Source: CNET News

The ignorance of general humanity preceds me.

This was inevitable...If we do or don't, it still won't change the outcome...kinda depressed now.

Whats 1 foot gunna do?

another topic about global warming? people this is something earth goes through naturally, with or with out human activity this would happen, perhaps our polution has sped the process up, but how much do you actually think it has sped the process up? answer very miniscule, stop believing everything you hear one side of scientists state it as fact with out giving you both sides, by doing so you are just jumping on the bandwagaon of the anti-human mindset, humans have litte effect on the worlds temperature cycles, but it seems as if everyone just automatically points thier finger at each other....



and you've just proved my point

We have indeed done much damage to this planet and must change our ways as soon as possible. But I agree with Seeking the earth naturally warms and cools all the time, the earth has actually been a lot cooler and has been warming up once again, it just coincides with our industrial activities. Although we have helped it along.

Could this be the begining of the end?
http://www.thedayaftertomorrow.com/