ENVIRONMENTAL CENTS: What are the Main Causes of Sea Level Rise?
And what can be done about it?
by Bruce Saller
GUEST WRITER
Sea level rise is one of the more catastrophic impacts of climate change. The EPA predicts that up to $106 billion worth of coastal property will be underwater by 2050.
Between 2050 and 2100, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that sea levels will rise between one and seven feet, depending upon how much we reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
There are four main contributors to sea level rise:
Water entering the oceans from melting glaciers and land-based ice sheets. This has been the biggest cause of sea level rise.
Increase in water volume due to increasing water temperature. Water increases in
volume as temperature rises, and the amount of increase per degree grows as the temperature rises. This has been the second biggest cause of sea level rise.
Changes in lake levels and underground aquifers. The water that is removed from aquifers and lakes eventually ends up in the oceans. Large storms which fill reservoirs and lakes can increase lake levels, causing a temporary drop in sea level.
Changes in land elevation. Due to shifts in the tectonic plates, land on the west coast is rising and land on the east coast is falling. Removing a large amount of water from wells can also cause the land to drop.
The sea level rise values are calculated based on sea levels around the world. There are large variations within the continental U.S. due to the impacts from water temperature and land elevation.
NOAA predicts that the average sea level rise by 2050 will be 10 to 12 inches. Predictions per region, are 10 to 14 inches of rise on the east coast, 4 to 8 inches on the west coast, and 14 to 18 inches on the Gulf Coast.
The Gulf Coast states especially could see devastating impacts from sea level rise. A study by Cornell and Florida State University predicts that Florida will lose $619 billion worth of real estate by 2100.
We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now to minimize these impacts.
Here are some things we can do:
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Another great article, Bruce! p.s. I've got a book on Milan for you.. J K
Our planet has many problems.
Oxygen levels in the Oceans have been decreasing. As the water warms it releases Oxygen from the Oceans, but the Oxygen level in the atmosphere has been staying steady, because the combustion engines are using the Oxygen at the same rate as the Oceans are releasing it. What's going to happen when the Oxygen releases in the Ocean slow down while combustion engines continue to use up the Oxygen levels in the Atmosphere?
The acid rains are also making the soils and Oceans more acidy. That is causing a massive die off of some vegetation, animal and the Coral Reefs. Most of the oxygen comes from plants in the oceans.
There is a danger of the ice sheets melting on top of mountain ranges. Those ice sheets provide water in the rivers and streams that run downhill to the lakes that supply drinking water to Billions of people. The Himalayan Mountain range ice sheets supply drinking water to over a billion people alone.
If those ice sheets melt it could completely disrupt a stead water supply that would have devastating consequences throughout the world.
We witnessed last year the Rappahannock almost drying up partly because the lack of snow that slowly releases water and recharges the groundwater.