Effects of global warming
From RationalWiki
The effects of global warming will be many, varied and almost wholly negative.[1] Pretending global warming is not happening will not make it go away.
[edit] A rise in sea level.
The most modest prediction of sea level rise presently predicted is 9-88 cm (3.5–34.6 inches). This small rise would cause significant disruption to coastal communities. [1]
There is a possibility, however, that the whole Greenland ice sheet would melt leading to a global rise of 7 m [23 ft]. There is even a possibility that the West antarctic ice sheet could melt raising sea levels by a further six meters (20 feet). Although the rest of the antarctic ice sheet is considered to be stable, if the entire antarctic were to melt, this would raise sea levels by 62 meters (203 feet).[2]
In addition to the rises in sea level caused by melting glaciers, sea level would also rise as a consequence of the thermal expansion of the warmer water.
[edit] More active weather systems.
More energy in the atmosphere will lead to more active weather systems, with more frequent and more violent storms. More sever weather events such as storms, floods, heatwaves and hurricanes will be the result. [3]
[edit] Disturbed rainfall patterns.
Rainfall patterns will be significantly disrupted with floods in some places and droughts in others.
[edit] Acidification of the oceans.
The ocean has a limited capacity to dissolve carbon dioxide before it ceases to absorb any more thus leading to further warming. This would also cause great damage to fish stocks.
[edit] Tipping points/feedback loops.
There are many possible tipping points and feedback loops. For instance, if global warming causes the northern permafrost to melt this will release vast amounts of methane which will make the problem much worse.
[edit] Spread of tropical diseases.
As northern latitudes become warmer previously rare tropical diseases will gain a foothold in more northern latitudes.[4]
[edit] Disruption of ocean currents.
The disruption of ocean currents could shut down the Gulf Steam with unpredictable consequences.
[edit] Habitat loss or change faster than animals can adapt.
Temperature zones will move north and south too quickly for animals to follow or adapt to new habitats. The most extreme case is that of arctic habitats which will leave animals such as polar bears with no place to go.
[edit] Loss of mountain glaciers exacerbating summer droughts.
Mountain glaciers act as natural reservoirs, releasing winter snow as meltwater during the summer. Global warming will disrupt this system in two ways:
- Global warming will melt the existing glaciers.[5]
- More rain will fall instead of snow which will prevent the reformation of the glaciers.
The result of this will be more floods when it rains and droughts when it does not.[6]
[edit] Social effects of global warming
Global warming and the retreat of Arctic ice is already have social repercussions for various nations. A good example of this is the battle for control of Hans Island. Hans Island is a barren, uninhabited chunk of rock fully two square kilometres in surface area that is bisected by the dividing line between the respective territories of Greenland and Canada. [7] In the past the sovereignty of this insignificant island was undisputed since it was economically worthless, but with summer pack ice ever retreating it may shortly be the case that control of Hans Island grants access to huge, untapped hydrocarbon deposits as well as control of shipping through the Nares Straight.
There has been considerable diplomatic tension between Canada and Denmark (who represent the interests of Greenland in all international affairs) over the sovereignty of the island. Both nations have made expeditions to the island to plant their respective flags, and assert their claim to the island. Like all good controversial issues, the battle for Hans Island has spawned a large number of parody sites on the internet. [8] [9]
[edit] See Also
[edit] External links
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.gtp89.dial.pipex.com/06.pdf
- ↑ http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/impacts/sea_level_rise
- ↑ UK met Office Climate change
- ↑ http://www.gtp89.dial.pipex.com/08.pdf
- ↑ glaciers melting faster
- ↑ Water shortage from Global Warming
- ↑ Background to the dispute over Hans Island
- ↑ Free Hans Island Parody Site
- ↑ Radio Free Hans Island Parody Site
