To what extent will Global warming lead to flooding?

1. To what extent will Global warming lead to flooding? Some scientists predict that hundreds of millions of people will loose their homes due to flooding in the next 50 years.

2. Here is a table of the increase of temperature and carbon dioxide concentration from the past 100 years. Return

3. So as this temperature trend continues to increase, the polar ice caps are predicted by scientists to melt, leading to flooding.

4. Socially there is a huge debate going on whether or not flooding caused by global warming is only mass hysteria or a scientific fact. • The media and the government continue to broadcast that global warming is going to cause horrendous damage in the near future. • Sen. James Jeffords stated, “Global warming will result in more extreme weather, increased flooding and drought, disruption of agricultural and water systems, threats to human health and loss of sensitive species and ecosystems. We must take action…..” • There is an urgent rush pressed on everyone that action towards preventing global warming must be taken now or the environment will be destroyed beyond repair. • But what are the facts?

5. How much temperature change will cause the ice caps to melt? • Here is a table of the increase of temperature and carbon ... • Temperatures have only risen .8 degrees Celsius in the past hundred years! • Yes an increase of heat causes ice to melt but these are no ordinary ice cubes. • Johnston stated, “ The disintegration of the East Antarctic ice sheets, which accounts for 80% of the Earth’s current ice, would involve warming's of 20 degrees Celsius, and would take at least 10,000 years.

6. So is it a hoax? Will Florida stay dry? • Based on that last bit of information it seems that it will take extremely much more amounts of heat change and time to cause any catastrophic flooding. • The problem is there are so many sources throwing certain “scientific” numbers to prove their point that their is so much uncertainty whether or not the temperature change will or will not cause damage. • Even with all the uncertainty, the world is rushing to change transportation systems , a significant contributor to carbon dioxide levels, at an alarming rate. • In fear, everyone is failing to notice the damage that might occur with such a rush.

7. Switching to alternative energy powered cars will not only cost a lot of monetary investment for both manufacturers and consumers but there will also be other problems. • Hysteria will push the production of these cars much too quickly, leading to inadequate development. • Gasoline cars have been the focus of development for such a long time that it would take many years to create a alternative power car that could perform as well. • Without enough time, electric cars would have too short of a battery life and would have low top speeds.

8. Also, the gasoline car industry is such a huge industry world wide that switching to alternative fuel so quickly will lead to huge amounts of unemployment. • The rush is on to develop and push these technologies into creation no matter what the cost. • This compares similarly in the development of nuclear energy in the twentieth century. There was so much optimism toward setting up a “nuclear” world even though nuclear power plants did not really make energy cheaper but more expensive. • We need to not act out of fear or superstition but consider the options and choose the best one.

9. Is there a solution? • Yes, temperature is increasing, and this increase seems to be caused for the most part by humans burning fossil fuels. • It is clear that humans are doing something to the earth with the rising Carbon Dioxide levels, however, it is not as urgent of a problem as everyone thinks. • We do need to improve our energy sources, but this improvement does not need to be done all at once and instantly. • There is plenty of time for the best choice of action to be taken.

10. So what? What is big deal? • Global warming is one of the most controversial issues • of today. • If true, flooding caused by the rising temperatures could • cause hundreds of millions of people to loose their homes. • The movement it is leading could cause technology as we • know it, especially the transportation industry, to change • drastically. • People working in gasoline car companies will loose their • jobs and those who own gasoline cars will be put to waste. • Even those who invest in other sources of energy will end • up initially loosing a lot of money.

11. However, investing in alternate forms of energy will save money in the long run. • Gas prices are at way too high of a price and the price continues to rise. Switching to alternative forms of energy will allow to U.S. stop relying on foreign imports of oil. • All in all, investing in alternate energy smartly will reduce carbon dioxide Concentrations and help the environment.

12. Bibliography • 1. Florence, Joseph. "2005 Hottest Year on Record." Earth Policy Insitute. 16 Mar. 2008. <http://www.earth-policy.org/Indicators/Temp/2006.htm>. • 2. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions." www.fueleconomy.gov. 16 Mar. 2008. <www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/GHGemissions.shtml>. • 3. Revkin, Andrew C. "2 New Studies Tie Rise in Ocean Heat to Greenhouse Gases." New York Times 13 Apr. 2001. • 4. Steffin, Sherwin. "Falling for Junk Science-the Tale of Global Warming. Is it "inconvenient" or "Unlikely" Truth?" scribd. 17 Mar. 2008. <http://www.scribd.com/doc/38074/Global-warming-v-2-0>. • 5. Clemmitt, Marcia. "Climate Change." CQ Researcher. 16.4 (January 27 2006). • 6. Cooper, Mary H. "Alternative Fuels." CQ Researcher. 15.8 (February 25 2005). • 7. Johnston, R. "What if all the ice melts?" Myths and Realities. Johnston's Archieve. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/environment/waterworld.html