The Consequences of the Rising Sea Level - Report Example

Introduction Global warming has been defined by various scholars as the rise in heat of the earth’s ambiance and its expected continuation resulting to the earth’s surface temperatures increasing (Maslin 2). The issue of global warming has aroused a variety of problems in reference to the nature, how it occurs, and its cost because of the consequences. The controversial issues include among others the causes of increased temperatures in the recent years and mostly due to human activity. Various questions are raised during research on global warming, which include if the warming is not planned for or it is normal within the climatic changes, whether human beings have significantly contributed to this or if the increase is completely or partially an artifact of poor measurements (Archer 17). Also controversy over estimates of climate sensitivity, predictions of more warming and the outcomes of global warming has been rife among scientists’ assessment reports (Weart 14). Human activities continue to affect the content of the atmosphere especially through gas emissions from green houses and aerosols generated from various human activities, and this keeps on changing the atmosphere in a manner that is most likely to affect the climate. Thus it is deemed that natural factors contributing to global warming are very small as compared to activities that people engage in top change atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. Rising of the Sea Level The warming of the atmosphere has resulted to higher sea level due to the fact that land and lower atmosphere of a warmer climate result to heat being channeled into the oceans (Neumann, Yohe, Nicholla and Manion 12). Heating of materials leads to their expansion which is referred to as thermal expansion, thus the transfer of heat results to the expansion of sea water, which results to a rise in sea level. Warm temperatures might result to the following effects on the earth’s surface’s natural resources, in the ice lands and oceans. When non-polar glaciers melt, they release water might flow into the ocean thus contributing to a sea-level rise. Glaciers are highly sensitive to change in climate and, therefore, melt at a very fast rate and the water flows to oceans and the effect is increase in sea levels (FEMA 10). Ice increases from snowfall and is balanced by ice loss from melting and the discharging of glaciers in the Greenland (Archer 38). Forecasts show that increase in melting from higher temperatures will cause an increase in precipitation. Thus, the changes in the ice balance will add water to the ocean, hence contributing to rise in sea levels. Almost all of Antarctica is covered by a sheet of ice, which is 2.5 kilometers thick and if the ice covering Antarctica was to melt, then there would be an over 60 meters rise in the sea levels. However, increase of a few degrees in the Antarctic would not change the melting point of ice since it is so cold there and extremely high temperatures will melt down the ice. Though thermal expansion is not an obvious process than melting ice, weather professionals argue that it remains a major contributor of projected sea-level rise in the 21st century. It has been difficult for scientists to be precise with sea-level forecasts since there are a number of uncertainties. The first one is greenhouse gas concentrations and scientists agree that depending on the levels of increase in these gases will determine the future rise in atmospheric temperatures and consequently sea levels. However this depends on a number of factors, for example, growth in population, use of energy and development of new technologies. Climate sensitivity, which refers to the level of atmospheric warming that result from the increasing carbon dioxide in the air, is another factor (Houghton 48). This is significant enough to be regarded as a source of uncertainty in the forecast of long-term climate change, as the levels of carbon dioxide are bound to change with time. Another factor is ocean heat exchange, where there is heat movement between the oceans surface and the atmosphere. What goes on in the ocean influences the temperature at the surface at any one time. Small changes in the transport of heat or salt have significant effects on the surface temperature, and ultimately on climate. There is uncertainty over the response of the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica to many years of higher temperatures. Scientists have raised concerns that there could rapid disintegration of the West Antarctic ice sheet, resulting to a rapid rise in sea level. In addition to these global uncertainties, the rate and magnitude of change in sea-level varies in different places in response to the changes in ocean currents and vertical movements land itself and in some areas, sea level might actually fall. An increase in overall temperatures is expected to melt mountain glaciers and cold regions like the Greenland and the Antarctic ice sheets, which will in turn lead to a rise in global sea levels. Judging by the current rates at which the sea level is rising, there is some doubt that the global temperature forecasts are incorrect. This is because the rate at which ice sheets are melting or sliding into the oceans cannot be determined, since they are different for different regions. Additionally, some processes are not purely a result of climate change. Satellite data and hydrographic, climate models, observations have shown that sea level is not uniformly rising in around the world. There is a rise in sea levels along most of the U.S. Coasts and around the world. For example, Washington has an estimated 2,300 miles of marine coastline and a large number of its population living and working along these coasts (Niemi, 13). The communities in these coasts are particularly in danger of facing the adverse effects of the climate change, which puts the population at risk in terms of their homes and property. It is also important to note that over the last century, sea levels have risen between 5 to 6 inches more than the global average; with the areas most affected being the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. A rise in sea levels increases the vulnerability of coastal areas to flooding during storms, for example, given a storm surge from a hurricane or northeaster builds on a higher base of water. For example, it is estimated that existing development in the U.S coastal zone could experience a 36-58 percent increase in annual damages for a 1 foot rise in sea level, and up to 102-200 percent increase for a 3 foot rise. Vulnerability to storms is also increased by shore erosion which removes the dunes and beaches that protect the properties along the coast from storm waves. A rise in sea levels also increases flooding along the coast from rainstorms because low areas drain slowly as sea levels rise. Wetlands are often found in low-lying locations, and might be converted into habitats of high value to deep waters (Workman 5). Wetlands and estuaries are of importance to low-lying areas since they help in protection against flooding by the absorption of excess water and the filtration of pollutants. Wetlands and estuaries also help in stabilizing the shorelines and the provision of habitats for wildlife like salmons and water fowls, shrimps, crabs and herons. Climate change is forecasted to bring about an increase in storm intensities and wave heights. In places like the Pacific Ocean, the heightened frequency of intense storms coupled with increasing wave heights will result in very high rates of coastal erosion storm damage. The increase in waves and storms are bound to cause a lot of property damage, for example, Landslides, erosions and washouts are bound to destroy transport systems. High sea levels may result in salt water penetrating wells in low-lying communities, which reduces the availability of fresh water to these communities. Water managers face a lot of challenges on islands. Island county ground relies solely on rainfall to refill their water aquifers. The Island County is located at the rain-shadow of Olympic Mountains, and receives 17-40 inches of rain annually. Aquifers that are at sea level or lower are connected to Puget Sound salt water. Part of these aquifers may have saltwater. Serious problems might arise when there is sea water intrusion and movement of marine saltwater into freshwater aquifers. Conclusion Property owners and federal, state, and local governments are already taking measures in preparation for the consequences of the rising sea level. Coastal states are working together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to place sand on the beaches to offset and help reduce erosion along the shores. Property owners are elevating already existing structures in low-lying areas, encouraged by low rates of flood insurance. Several other States have had to take up policies that ensure that beaches, dunes, or wetlands are able to migrate inland with the rise in sea level. Some States have outlawed the construction of new houses in areas likely to have been eroded in the coming 30-60 years. This is being done in a bid to protect civilians against property loss. Property owners along sandy bay beaches are also advised to erect various types of sea walls to prevent erosion. Even though these tough structures might protect property, they might eliminate bay beaches, which are 10 feet wide or less. In addition to their environmental importance, beaches are important as they provide grounds for fishing, recreation, transportation, and airstrips for small crafts. Works Cited Archer, David. Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast, 2011. Denver: John Wiley and Sons. FEMA. Evaluation of Erosion Hazards, 2010. Online. Accessed November 30, 2011. Houghton, John. Global Warming: The Complete Briefing, 2004. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Print. Maslin, Mark. Global Warming: Causes, Effects, and the Future World Life Library, 2007. China: MBI Publishing Company. Neumann, James, and Gary Yohe, and Robert Nicholla, and Michelle Manion. Sea Level Rise and Global Climate Change: A Review of the Impacts to U.S. Coasts, 2000. Washington: Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Niemi, Ernie. An Overview of Potential Economic Costs to Washington of a Business-As-Usual Approach to Climate Change, 2009. Washington, Climate Leadership Initiatives. Weart, Spencer. The Discovery of Global Warming New Histories of Science, Technology, And Medicine, 2008. Harvard: Harvard University Press, Workman, Dave. Issue up Close: Sustaining Our Remaining Wetlands for People, Fish and Wildlife-Mitigation That Works, 2006. Online. Accessed November 30, 2011. Read More