Effects of global warming
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== A rise in sea level == | == A rise in sea level == | ||
| − | The most modest prediction of sea level rise presently predicted is | + | 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.<ref name="IPCC6">http://www.gtp89.dial.pipex.com/06.pdf</ref> |
| − | 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 | + | 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).<ref>http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/impacts/sea_level_rise</ref> Although this isn't enough to turn the Earth into ''Waterworld'', it's more than enough of a rise to render every major coastal city on the planet uninhabitable. |
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. | 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. | ||
== More active weather systems == | == More active weather systems == | ||
| − | More energy in the atmosphere will lead to more active weather systems, with more frequent and more violent storms. More severe weather events such as storms, floods, heatwaves and hurricanes will be the result. <ref>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/weatherguide/climatechange.html UK met Office Climate change]</ref> | + | More energy in the atmosphere will lead to more active weather systems, with more frequent and more violent storms. More severe weather events such as storms, floods, heatwaves and hurricanes will be the result.<ref>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/weatherguide/climatechange.html UK met Office Climate change]</ref> |
== Disturbed rainfall patterns == | == Disturbed rainfall patterns == | ||
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== Spread of tropical diseases == | == Spread of tropical diseases == | ||
| − | As northern latitudes become warmer previously rare tropical diseases will gain a foothold in more northern latitudes.<ref name="IPCC8">http://www.gtp89.dial.pipex.com/08.pdf</ref>The World Health Organization has identified more than 30 new or resurgent diseases in the last three decades, the sort of explosion some experts say has not happened since the Industrial Revolution brought masses of people together in cities.Another report made by WHO in 2000 found that warming had caused malaria to spread from three districts in western Kenya to 13 and led to epidemics of the disease in Rwanda and Tanzania. In Sweden, cases of tick-borne encephalitis have risen in direct correlation to warmer winters. Asian tiger mosquitoes, the type that carry dengue fever, have been reported recently as far north as the Netherlands.Cholera, which thrives in warmer water, appeared in the newly warmed waters of South America in 1991 for the first time in the 20th century. “It swept from Peru across the continent and into Mexico, killing more than 10,000 people.”Once confined to land near the equator, West Nile Virus is now found as far north as Canada. Seven years ago, West Nile virus had never been seen in North America; today, it has “infected more than 21,000 people in the United States and Canada and killed more than 800.”<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/04/AR2006050401931.html</ref> | + | As northern latitudes become warmer previously rare tropical diseases will gain a foothold in more northern latitudes.<ref name="IPCC8">http://www.gtp89.dial.pipex.com/08.pdf</ref> The World Health Organization has identified more than 30 new or resurgent diseases in the last three decades, the sort of explosion some experts say has not happened since the Industrial Revolution brought masses of people together in cities.Another report made by WHO in 2000 found that warming had caused malaria to spread from three districts in western Kenya to 13 and led to epidemics of the disease in Rwanda and Tanzania. In Sweden, cases of tick-borne encephalitis have risen in direct correlation to warmer winters. Asian tiger mosquitoes, the type that carry dengue fever, have been reported recently as far north as the Netherlands.Cholera, which thrives in warmer water, appeared in the newly warmed waters of South America in 1991 for the first time in the 20th century. “It swept from Peru across the continent and into Mexico, killing more than 10,000 people.”Once confined to land near the equator, West Nile Virus is now found as far north as Canada. Seven years ago, West Nile virus had never been seen in North America; today, it has “infected more than 21,000 people in the United States and Canada and killed more than 800.”<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/04/AR2006050401931.html</ref> |
Cold weather no longer kills ticks that carry Lyme Disease. Ticks recently began spreading along the coastlines of Scandinavia, which formerly was too cold for them to survive. Cases of Lyme Disease in the area have doubled since the late 1990s.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17861866</ref> | Cold weather no longer kills ticks that carry Lyme Disease. Ticks recently began spreading along the coastlines of Scandinavia, which formerly was too cold for them to survive. Cases of Lyme Disease in the area have doubled since the late 1990s.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17861866</ref> | ||
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== Social effects of global warming == | == 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. <ref>[http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/hansIsland/background.asp Background to the dispute over Hans Island]</ref> 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. | + | 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.<ref>[http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/hansIsland/background.asp Background to the dispute over Hans Island]</ref> 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. <ref>[http://www.freehansisland.com/ Free Hans Island Parody Site]</ref> <ref>[http://www.radiofreehansisland.com/ Radio Free Hans Island Parody Site]</ref> | + | 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.<ref>[http://www.freehansisland.com/ Free Hans Island Parody Site]</ref><ref>[http://www.radiofreehansisland.com/ Radio Free Hans Island Parody Site]</ref> |
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 01:15, 19 March 2010
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.
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] Although this isn't enough to turn the Earth into Waterworld, it's more than enough of a rise to render every major coastal city on the planet uninhabitable.
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.
More active weather systems
More energy in the atmosphere will lead to more active weather systems, with more frequent and more violent storms. More severe weather events such as storms, floods, heatwaves and hurricanes will be the result.[3]
Disturbed rainfall patterns
Rainfall patterns will be significantly disrupted with floods in some places and droughts in others.
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.
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.
Spread of tropical diseases
As northern latitudes become warmer previously rare tropical diseases will gain a foothold in more northern latitudes.[4] The World Health Organization has identified more than 30 new or resurgent diseases in the last three decades, the sort of explosion some experts say has not happened since the Industrial Revolution brought masses of people together in cities.Another report made by WHO in 2000 found that warming had caused malaria to spread from three districts in western Kenya to 13 and led to epidemics of the disease in Rwanda and Tanzania. In Sweden, cases of tick-borne encephalitis have risen in direct correlation to warmer winters. Asian tiger mosquitoes, the type that carry dengue fever, have been reported recently as far north as the Netherlands.Cholera, which thrives in warmer water, appeared in the newly warmed waters of South America in 1991 for the first time in the 20th century. “It swept from Peru across the continent and into Mexico, killing more than 10,000 people.”Once confined to land near the equator, West Nile Virus is now found as far north as Canada. Seven years ago, West Nile virus had never been seen in North America; today, it has “infected more than 21,000 people in the United States and Canada and killed more than 800.”[5]
Cold weather no longer kills ticks that carry Lyme Disease. Ticks recently began spreading along the coastlines of Scandinavia, which formerly was too cold for them to survive. Cases of Lyme Disease in the area have doubled since the late 1990s.[6]
Disruption of ocean currents
The disruption of ocean currents could shut down the Gulf Stream with unpredictable consequences.
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. In 2007 Indonesia's environment minister has announced that scientific studies estimate about 2,000 of the country's lush tropical islands could disappear by 2030.[7]
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.[8]
- 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.[9]
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.[10] 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.[11][12]
See also
External links
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
- ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/04/AR2006050401931.html
- ↑ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17861866
- ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/GlobalWarming/Story?id=2847562&page=1 One Gigantic Wild Card In Global Warming
- ↑ 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