“The sea level rise is actually an invisible tsunami, that’s just gaining momentum while we are at a standstill,” Ben Strauss warns, ClimateCentral research organization representative . “We are running out of time to succeed in preventing the worst consequences of” big water “. The main cause of sea level rise is global warming and global glaciers melting as follows. Other reasons seem negligible. Climatologists predict several global scenarios of the world’s oceans level arising. And even those most optimistic assume that with huge coastal areas will be irremediably lost by the mankind with relocation of more than 100 million people, whereas being based on the hypothesis of ocean’s level rising only for 1.5-2.0 meters by the end of the century.
After the last ice age finished approximately about 21,000 years ago, the sea level increased by 120 meters, and stabilized at this point just about 2500 years ago. After that the changes were insignificant, until 1900. Since 1900, the World Ocean level rose by another 20 centimeters. According to scientists forecasts, in case global warming does not stop, Ocean’s level can rise by another 13 meters by 2500. More than 70 percent of the world’s population lives on coastal plains, not to mention that 11 of the world’s 15 largest cities are situated the coast. Therefore, the potential threat of the world ocean level rising by 13 meters is not just a long-term figure. 13 meters of water chaos that have broken its banks means that Venice and Shanghai, Copenhagen and Vladivostok, Miami and Boston and dozens of the largest cities with millions of residents living in them will be flooded.
Even the sea level rise by only 1 meter will lead to huge ground plots flooding, especially in Asia. It will destroy houses of more than 100 million people, turning them into the environmental refugees. According to scientists, the water rise by by 2 m will make 48 millions Asians, 15 millions Europeans, 22 millions of South Americans, 17 millions of North Americans, 11 millions Africans, 6 millions Australians and 440,000 of Pacific islanders – all homeless. By the end of the century, the oceans level rise will fundamentally change the world map. Huge parts of the present United States coast, a significant part of Holland, large territories of Italy, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Spain in addition to Maldives, Bermuda and Venice will be submerged. China and Japan will also suffer greatly from the ocean’s advance – Shanghai and Yokohama will be flooded. Kerch, Feodosia, Evpatoria and Odessa are threatened to be absorbed by The Black Sea.
However, according to some experts, there is a probability of a situation to be developed more rapidly than the others are expecting. Most of the current assessments are tied to a forecast, based on the postulate of 2 ° C being an average annual temperature increase. A forecast published by a group of scientists from the USA and Europe this spring, however, claims it is competent to consider temperature rise not of 2 °C by 2100, but about 3 ° C by 2050. All the forecasts data and calculations are available at climateprediction.net. The Kyoto Protocol failed to be effective, and the main polluters – the USA, India and China – still only declare their intentions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some researchers are sure it is too late. Pessimistic forecasts predict that the World Ocean level can rapidly rise by 7 m within 100-150 years.
In order to slow the sea level rise, we must stop the temperature rise. And this means that humanity must abandon numerous energetic polluting technologies. Many scientists agree that this plan is the only effectual measure. So we if we want to stop the sea level rise we will have to reduce the energy-related GHG emission. Significant investment in local shore protection is required in addition. Without such an investment, the gradual disappearance of coastal areas will be unavoidable. The fact that it was human activity that caused climate change and sea level rise is evident unpopular truth. This led to a shorelines changes. The consequences of this activity will be felt by several generations. But it is us who’s responsible for these devastating repercussions.