Polar Ice Sheets Vulnerable to Even Moderate Global Warming; New Orleans, Much of Southern Florida

[Dover]

Earth's Polar Ice Sheets Vulnerable to Even Moderate Global Warming; New Orleans, Much of Southern Florida, Expected to Be Permanently Submerged

ScienceDaily (Dec. 17, 2009) — A new analysis of the geological record of the Earth's sea level, carried out by scientists at Princeton and Harvard universities and published in the Dec. 16 issue of Nature, employs a novel statistical approach that reveals the planet's polar ice sheets are vulnerable to large-scale melting even under moderate global warming scenarios. Such melting would lead to a large and relatively rapid rise in global sea level.

According to the analysis, an additional 2 degrees of global warming could commit the planet to 6 to 9 meters (20 to 30 feet) of long-term sea level rise. This rise would inundate low-lying coastal areas where hundreds of millions of people now reside. It would permanently submerge New Orleans and other parts of southern Louisiana, much of southern Florida and other parts of the U.S. East Coast, much of Bangladesh, and most of the Netherlands, unless unprecedented and expensive coastal protection were undertaken. And while the researchers' findings indicate that such a rise would likely take centuries to complete, if emissions of greenhouse gases are not abated, the planet could be committed during this century to a level of warming sufficient to trigger this outcome. ..cont'd

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091216131747.htm

[bajamary]

1. southern Florida not southern France

I think that southern Florida is expected to be submerged not southern France.

It's a terrible scenario no matter where the waters rise.

[Dover]

2. You're right. Hmmmm......a Freudian slip?...n/t

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. See Also

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=222625&mesg_id=222625