Sea Level Rise

Recently due to climate change and global warming, there has been a major concern among environmental experts regarding sea level rise. There is a broad consensus of opinion among scientists today that we are in a middle of an inevitable process of climate change characterized by rise in world temperature as a result of the excessive emission of greenhouse gases, ie. carbon dioxide.

The direct and most imminent result of global warming is the melting of polar glaciers and rise in sea level. The phenomenon of sea level rise is especially worrisome since more than 2 billion people, which amount to roughly 45 per cent of world population, live in a range of 60 miles from coast line. In addition, most of the major cities in the world are located near the shores. The geo-economic effect of sea level rise may be far reaching. For example, The Silicon Valley in California or Manhattan in New York, areas of great economic importance, may well be underwater. Water wells in proximity to the coasts will probably be salted – what might lead to water shortage.

With the ending of the last Ice Age, 11,000 years ago, glaciers have started to melt. In 5,000 there was a rise of 100 meters in sea level. According to a UN report issued in 2001, in the last one hundred years there has been a significant rise in see level in comparison to the previous two thousand years. By the year 2100, sea level is expected to rise by 10 to 90 centimeters. That means a rise of minimum 10 millimeters per one year! It is probable, some scientists claim, that we are facing another warming period that is a part of a natural cycle of warming and cooling that has been an inseparable part of world climate changes.

Although there are scientists who assert that global warming and consequent sea level rise are an inevitable naturally cyclist phenomenon and have nothing to do with human activity, the majority of experts do believe there are some measures we must adopt to fight sea level rise. Those measures are characterized by one leading concept, decreasing the greenhouse effect and stopping earth from warming:

1) Reducing the emission of greenhouse gases by limiting the burning of fossil fuels
2) Diminishing the clearing of rainforest trees and planting new ones to absorb carbon dioxide
3) limiting the use of CFC and finding replacements to this ozone unfriendly gas
4) Finding alternative energy sources that will replace fossil fuels, such as solar energy, nuclear energy, wind energy or biofuels.
5) Effective international cooperation on environmental issues.

02.05.2008. 00:50