Sea-level rise is one of the most significant effects of climate change. As global temperatures rise, ice in the polar-regions will continue to melt, dumping tons of additional water into the ocean. Warmer water temperatures will also lead the oceans to expand high projected rates of future sea-level rise. “These factors will cause sea levels to increase and swamp coastal areas all over the world” (Oceans and Sea Level Rise). Particularly, countries which are located in low-lying areas as well as islands, are concerned that their land areas would be decreased due to inundation and coastal erosion and, at worst, a large proportion of their population may be forced to migrate to other countries. Although flooding is an obvious consequence of rising sea levels, there are numerous other effects to consider. The current rising sea levels due to global warming are effecting the environment in a number of ways. (Oceans and Sea Level Rise)
“As the rising sea crawls farther up the shore, in many places it will seep into the freshwater sources in the ground that many coastal areas rely on for their drinking water” (Harvey) These underground water aquifers are crucial sources of freshwater. In fact, groundwater accounts for most of the planet 's freshwater. Once the saltwater contaminates the fresh water it is unsafe to drink. (Harvey) “While it is possible to remove the salt from water, doing so is an expensive and complicated process” (Talbot). Desalination projects in India, Saudi
Climate change has been in debate for many years over whether it is a threat or not, but climate change is a threat and will be for many generations to come. Climate change impacts the sea levels which has a major effect on oceans and marine life, causes more frequent and harsher storms, and puts coastal cities at risk for floods and erosion. Although climate change cost large amounts of money to fix it is killing our oceans and marine life, causes harsher storms, and risks coastal cities.
The issue is that the sea water levels are rising as a result of warming oceans caused by climate change. The burning of fossil fuels has put lots of “greenhouse gases” such as methane into our atmosphere, causing more heat to be retained on the earth from the sun and overall warming the earth. The oceans absorb about 80 percent of the excess heat. Thermal Expansion is in effect as the sea levels rise. Polar ice caps and glaciers are melting due to global warming which is adding to the rising sea level. (National Geographic, 2017)
Irrespective of its cause, the impacts of climate change include more frequent and severe weather, higher death rates, dirtier air, higher wildlife extinction rates, and higher sea levels (IPCC, 2014). Although each of these impact areas are significant and worthy of further discussion, it is the ramifications of sea level rise that brought me to discuss climate action today.
Today, desalination is a common process that's used in seaside cities and towns worldwide. There are more than 15,000 desalination plants around the world providing freshwater from salt and brackish water alike (Planet Green 2011). This number continues to grow as researchers work to improve the process, both in terms of cost effectiveness and energy efficiency (DSE 2011). But countries such as Australia, Israel and even the United States are continually adding desalination plants of various sorts into their water-management portfolios. The facilities are common in North Africa and the Mideast, where freshwater is scarce (Chandler 2008).
Sea level has risen 3.4 mm per year due to climate change. This can have devastating effects on humans, plants and animals, and their habitats. Climate change has become a colossal problem considering it can leave countless humans stranded or starving, that are in need of assistance. It has also caused distrust or rifts between countries over who caused it and whose responsibility it is to pay for the damages it has caused. The economy of places on earth will be suspected to plummet as a result of rising sea levels and temperatures provoking animals to relocate and countries to lose their major exports, or suffer from the increase in prices for their imported goods. The U.N. believes that this is problem is in need of a solution. The world
Another factor of ascending sea levels is the increase in temperatures (3). Eissa and Zaki implies that “a considerable number of many species will be threatened with a continuous increase in sea levels to a certain point that the animal or species could become extinct” (The impact of global climatic…” 2). Sea levels are rising at very accelerated rates, and until the water keep rising, they will become very harmful to the human population and many marine organisms. However, increasing temperatures is one of the main factors of climate change. Johansen insists that “the warming of the world’s oceans has not only affected the animals who live above the surface, but also the ones who live below” (“Marine Life…” 1). Increasing temperatures are mostly caused by many human activities such as the release of fossil fuels emissions and greenhouse gases. The two main processes that cause increasing temperatures are Climate Change and the Greenhous effect. These can be very harmful to the marine population and permanently extinct them. According to recent studies, NOAA has discovered that seawater temperatures are increasing by about 0.1 Celsius, and many organisms confronted with this change could be in great danger (NOAA 2). In addition to increasing temperatures and sea levels rising, another factor would be ocean acidification. Global Issues portrays that” ocean acidification is caused by substantial amounts of carbon dioxide which is caused by greenhouse emissions” (Climate
However, issues the occur with rising temperature involve more severe floods, storms, droughts and fires which could then lead to higher death toll in human and animal life because for some animals it will be too hot to live. Due to this rise in Temperature Sea, level has increased dramatically and scientist estimate that the sea will continue to rise 15-95 cm by the end of the century. Sea levels are rising because two reasons. First with increasing average global temperatures, the water in Earth’s oceans expand in volume. This occurs because, when heated the molecules that make up a body of water move more rapidly and collide more often. The second reason is when glaciers and ice sheets melt the water that had previously been frozen the glaciers will melt and release the water cause more enter the oceans and
The Sea Level has increased over the past 200 years as average global temperatures have increased. The rise is due to two factors, the freshwater being added to the oceans from ice melt in the cryosphere, and the thermal expansion of the oceans due to rises in sea temperature. The sea level has risen 6 to 8 inches in the past 100 years. It is predicted to rise another 50 to 90 centimeters in the next century. As the sea level rises it’s jeopardizing rapidly growing coastal communities, which causes evacuation in some areas causing people to lose their homes. Sea level is the effect
Decades of research suggest that sea-levels are rising, and will continue to rise as a result of climate change. This rise will have the most immediate and significant impact on
The rise of sea level and global warming has become a much more serious problem right now. This problem has drawn international attention, because higher sea levels in the future would cause great damages not only in coastal area, but also in various parts of the world.We have already seen thousands of people call and lead people to protect our environment and eliminate the emission of greenhouse gases. We could lose our planet as well based on what we did. We really have to take action to prevent the dangerous outcomes happen in the future, otherwise the more people’s life would be inflected and
What humanity faces from the ramifications of this issue is immense. This research article will seek to convey and articulate if climate change has affected the rise of ocean levels, and if so what are the detrimental affects on coastal communities. This article will also reveal what specific regions and events that are happening that are elevating ocean level rise. The objective of this research article is to inform people about the plight that humanity has found itself in and how to prevent ecological damage and along with that prepare for the coming tide.
Rise of sea level can lead to significant increases in coastal erosion and other problems, such as salt-water intrusion. With only one meter of sea level rise we would see the disappearance of low-lying regions of the Gulf Coast, including the Florida keys (Where I’m from actually)..The economy and the population would all be affected by a one meter sea level rise.
The small island country of Maldives is being affected by sea level rises due to climate change. Being half a meter from sea level makes the Maldives a vulnerable country to climate change (Gwynne). They are low-lying countries who are slowly being affected by rising sea-levels. (Jaschik). Too much water coming into the shore at once is bringing the Maldives underwater. If the sea level rises to 1 m then there will be 79% less chance of getting groundwater (Iftikhar). Odd rainfall patterns are causing some dryness and shortage for the people. There has also been some recent contamination that makes the water more difficult to drink. In the article “Small States…” it claims “climate change is ultimately a matter of life and death” (Jaschik). When sea levels rises to the point of taking over,
According to John King, scientific studies say that the Bay Area’s average tide could increase several feet or more by 2100 due to climate change and rising sea levels. In 2015, ramps connecting to Highway 101 near Mill Valley were already closed 30 times. It is important to find the “political will” to process the long term plans regarding sea level rise that have been denied for the past half century. Sea level rise was not priority of current politics debate in San Francisco compared to issues with homeless camps and gun crisis. San Francisco Sea Level Rise Action Plan’s goal is to get people prepared for slow moving threat to the Bay
One of the most serious effects of global warming, as it continues to intensify, is the increase in the ocean levels. Thermal expansion of the ocean and glacial melting are likely to cause a .5 to 1.5 meter rise in the ocean level by the year 2100. As the ocean level rises and if no protection is provided, many freshwater supplies could be jeopardized. Tens and possibly hundreds of millions of