Will we drown in 2100?

December 15, 2006

Recent studies have shown that in the year 2100 the world’s oceans may rise up to 140 cms due to global warming. A study, based on air temperatures and past sea level changes rather than computer models, suggested seas could rise by 50-140 cms by 2100, well above the 9-88 cms projected by the scientific panel that advises the United Nations.

Almost all climate scientists reckon the world is warming because of emissions of greenhouse gases from human use of fossil fuels in factories, power plants and cars. Rising temperatures could bring more droughts, floods and heatwaves.

To better understand this, let us say that a rise of one metre might swamp low-lying Pacific islands such as Tuvalu, flood large areas of Bangladesh or Florida and threaten cities from New York to Buenos Aires. Coastal cities in the North Atlantic — from New York to London — could be especially vulnerable because a possible slowdown of ocean currents could also raise sea levels in the North Atlantic and lower them in the southern hemisphere.

So, will we drown or not. Well, for now, no one seems to know, although these people have some pointers.

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