How bad is Global Warming?
In effect, we can now expect all previous climate change models to be completely obsolete. Rather like a doomsday movie straight out of hollywood, you can imagine a scientist trying to explain to the president exactly how a slowing in the rate of CO2 absorbtion by the world's oceans translates directly into increased CO2 in the atmosphere and that "we're now looking at a 2 degree rise in global temperatures in the next 10 years as opposed to the 50 years previously predicted Mr President." Or for you gas guzzling Americans: Forget New York, Boston and San Fransico Mr President. I would also suggest that New Orleans will not need re-building or more capital expense. I forsee that a further category 4 or above hurricane will destroy any Levys around the coastal areas. Catastrophic sea rises will hamper any attempts to reclaim these areas of our nation.
"A warming atmosphere and ocean make for a great deal of extra energy available for the creation of weather. Around the world, recent data shows an increase in severity of storms, droughts, rainfall, and floods. The disastrous hurricane season of 2005 was just one indication of how synergistic weather is with sea level rise, loss of wetlands, social issues, and the ability of governments to respond. Three storms strengthened to category 5 in the Atlantic Basin for the first time in a single season (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma). An unprecedented 27 named tropical storms formed, according to NOAA, and more than half of them became hurricanes.
"The Arctic is thawing very rapidly (as a direct result of Global Warming), documented by new reports from scientists and arctic natives. The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment was released in late 2004, and shows changes from the ice at the North Pole to animals and human settlements. More recent reports from Greenland show outlet glaciers moving meters per hour and rapidly thinning. The Arctic Ocean ice cap is shrinking in summer to the smallest it has ever been in modern measurements, and even winter cold has not been refreezing it as extensively as before. Basically, there's a rise in overall sea level going on, coupled with an increase in violent weather, so costal regions will get hit very hard from now on. Costal cities could very easliy become innundated by sea swells.