Global Warming on Sea Level Rising

Introduction

In the recent years, the international community has been expressing its growing concern over the projected for the XXI century changes in the Earth's climate. The most serious thing in these changes is the already started rise of the average temperatures in the atmosphere, especially in its lowest layers. The effect of the humans’ activities on the environment is the foremost reason for that process. Some actions, especially the usage of fossil fuels in the industrial and domestic spheres lead to the increased greenhouse gases emission. This emission affects the composition of the atmosphere. At the same time, urbanization and agricultural practices make a great contribution to the physical and biological quality of the planet's surface, influencing both regional and global climate.

The average growing of the global temperature adversely impacts the natural ecosystems, for example, melting ice shelves of the planet, and humanity, in general. Caused by this process thermal expansion of the oceanic water and the dissolution of the Polaris glaciers lead to the global sea level rising. If this process does not slow down, in the next century, the modern world will descend almost by 70 meters under the water, causing the flooding of the major metropolises and significant climate changes. Therefore, the humankind should downplay its activities, which cause the global warming and sea level rising, as a consequence of this process, since the effects of these irreversible climatic processes can lead to a worldwide ecological disaster.

The Global Warming: Reasons and Consequences

The primary cause of the global warming is the greenhouse effect. It has existed since the planet got the atmosphere; without this effect, the temperature of the lowest layers of the atmosphere would have been approximately by thirty degrees lower in comparison with the actual level. However, during the last century, the content of certain greenhouse gases in the atmosphere vastly increased: carbon dioxide – by more than 25%, methane – by about 2.5 times (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 28). Additionally, the new, previously non-existent substances of the greenhouse absorption spectrum also appeared. They include chlorocarbons, fluorocarbons, and the notorious freon (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 27). One should not seek the reason for the rapid growth of the greenhouse gas emission too long. For centuries, the today’s civilization, from the fires of the primitive hunters to the modern gas stoves and automobiles, has used the rapid oxidation of carbon compounds, the final product of which is CO2. One can relate the increasing levels of the methane (due to rice fields, livestock, and leakage from wells and pipelines) and nitrous oxide to the human activity (Department of Energy & Climate Changes 19, 23). Perhaps the water vapor is the only thing, which content in the atmosphere has not affected the planet. It is the foremost greenhouse gas responsible for more than 60% of the natural greenhouse effect. Anthropogenic increase of its concentration in the atmosphere is not mentioned. However, the increasing of the temperature of the earth caused by other factors enhances the evaporation of ocean water. It leads to an increase of the concentration of the water vapor in the atmosphere, and to the greenhouse effect. On the other hand, the clouds reflect the direct sunlight. It reduces the energy coming to the Earth and, therefore, lowers the greenhouse effect.

The other greenhouse gas is halocarbon. It is the substance, which people created to replace the ozone-depleting substances. People use it mainly in the refrigeration equipment. This gas has exceptionally high rates of impact on the greenhouse effect: 140-11700 times greater than CO2. Its issue is small, but rapidly growing.

From 1965 to 2007, the usage of primary fossils by humanity increased by three times (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 114). All these processes cause emission of the carbon dioxide. Its content in the atmosphere has increased by 25% for the last 50 years, and it is still growing (Sharp). In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development declared, “The burning of fossil fuels puts into the atmosphere carbon dioxide, which is causing gradual global warming” (The United Nations 12). 

The processes of the world’s temperature increase can lead to the positive results in some regions of the North America, for example, by making their agriculture more profitable. People also consider the increased wood production and less number of deaths from freezing during the winter the positive effect of these climatic changes. Nevertheless, generally, the consequences of the global warming are going to be extremely negative. High temperatures and droughts will cause irreparable damage to agriculture around the world. On the African continent, for example, the grain harvests will vastly reduce, and the amount of the available drinking water will be significantly limited. The precipitation amount, especially in the south, north, and west regions of the continent, will gradually decrease and lead to the spread and emergence of the new desert areas. The frequent epidemics of different infectious diseases, spread by insects such as mosquitoes, will complete the list of disasters. 

However, the biggest changes will occur in the Polar Regions. The thickness and area of the Arctic ice will decline. It will cause the permafrost’s melting. Once started, the change of the gas composition in the atmosphere will finally stabilize. The result will lead to the irreversible changes in the water circulation.

The most irrecoverable consequence of the global warming will be the sea level rising. It will cause the flooding and soil erosion worldwide, which together with the strong tropical cyclones will force millions of people to leave the inhabited places and move away from the coast.

The Sea Level Rising as the Most Significant Consequence of the Global Warming

The sea level rising is the most significant consequence of the global warming due to its large-scale and severe effects for the humankind. Its interrelation with the global temperature growing is discussed below. The effects of the world ocean water’s volume increase are considered further, as well. 

The Direct Causes of the Sea Level Rising

There are two factors, which can cause the sea level rising. One of them is the increasing volume of the fluid. The sea level will rise if the melting of the glaciers and the polar ice cause the decrease of the liquid water’s volume, which is flowing into the oceans. If one puts into a glass of tea more ice, its level will grow. This effect causes approximately half of the whole sea level rising. 

The other one is the thermal expansion. The world ocean is like a giant thermometer, the water of which is similar to the liquid in the thermometer ball. If the temperature of the ocean increases, the water volume, like any other liquid, will expand. This effect also leads to the enlargement of the water volume, which corresponds for approximately the second half of the measured rising of the sea level. 

The scientists consider that the reasons for the sea level rising are “ocean thermal expansion, melting of glaciers, and wasting of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets” (McKay et al. 1). They entirely cover both main factors that can affect the increased water in the ocean, discussed earlier. Therefore, these reasons are considered more thoroughly below.

Introduction

In the recent years, the international community has been expressing its growing concern over the projected for the XXI century changes in the Earth's climate. The most serious thing in these changes is the already started rise of the average temperatures in the atmosphere, especially in its lowest layers. The effect of the humans’ activities on the environment is the foremost reason for that process. Some actions, especially the usage of fossil fuels in the industrial and domestic spheres lead to the increased greenhouse gases emission. This emission affects the composition of the atmosphere. At the same time, urbanization and agricultural practices make a great contribution to the physical and biological quality of the planet's surface, influencing both regional and global climate.

The average growing of the global temperature adversely impacts the natural ecosystems, for example, melting ice shelves of the planet, and humanity, in general. Caused by this process thermal expansion of the oceanic water and the dissolution of the Polaris glaciers lead to the global sea level rising. If this process does not slow down, in the next century, the modern world will descend almost by 70 meters under the water, causing the flooding of the major metropolises and significant climate changes. Therefore, the humankind should downplay its activities, which cause the global warming and sea level rising, as a consequence of this process, since the effects of these irreversible climatic processes can lead to a worldwide ecological disaster.

The Global Warming: Reasons and Consequences

The primary cause of the global warming is the greenhouse effect. It has existed since the planet got the atmosphere; without this effect, the temperature of the lowest layers of the atmosphere would have been approximately by thirty degrees lower in comparison with the actual level. However, during the last century, the content of certain greenhouse gases in the atmosphere vastly increased: carbon dioxide – by more than 25%, methane – by about 2.5 times (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 28). Additionally, the new, previously non-existent substances of the greenhouse absorption spectrum also appeared. They include chlorocarbons, fluorocarbons, and the notorious freon (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 27). One should not seek the reason for the rapid growth of the greenhouse gas emission too long. For centuries, the today’s civilization, from the fires of the primitive hunters to the modern gas stoves and automobiles, has used the rapid oxidation of carbon compounds, the final product of which is CO₂. One can relate the increasing levels of the methane (due to rice fields, livestock, and leakage from wells and pipelines) and nitrous oxide to the human activity (Department of Energy & Climate Changes 19, 23). Perhaps the water vapor is the only thing, which content in the atmosphere has not affected the planet. It is the foremost greenhouse gas responsible for more than 60% of the natural greenhouse effect. Anthropogenic increase of its concentration in the atmosphere is not mentioned. However, the increasing of the temperature of the earth caused by other factors enhances the evaporation of ocean water. It leads to an increase of the concentration of the water vapor in the atmosphere, and to the greenhouse effect. On the other hand, the clouds reflect the direct sunlight. It reduces the energy coming to the Earth and, therefore, lowers the greenhouse effect.

The other greenhouse gas is halocarbon. It is the substance, which people created to replace the ozone-depleting substances. People use it mainly in the refrigeration equipment. This gas has exceptionally high rates of impact on the greenhouse effect: 140-11700 times greater than CO2. Its issue is small, but rapidly growing.

From 1965 to 2007, the usage of primary fossils by humanity increased by three times (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 114). All these processes cause emission of the carbon dioxide. Its content in the atmosphere has increased by 25% for the last 50 years, and it is still growing (Sharp). In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development declared, “The burning of fossil fuels puts into the atmosphere carbon dioxide, which is causing gradual global warming” (The United Nations 12).

The processes of the world’s temperature increase can lead to the positive results in some regions of the North America, for example, by making their agriculture more profitable. People also consider the increased wood production and less number of deaths from freezing during the winter the positive effect of these climatic changes. Nevertheless, generally, the consequences of the global warming are going to be extremely negative. High temperatures and droughts will cause irreparable damage to agriculture around the world. On the African continent, for example, the grain harvests will vastly reduce, and the amount of the available drinking water will be significantly limited. The precipitation amount, especially in the south, north, and west regions of the continent, will gradually decrease and lead to the spread and emergence of the new desert areas. The frequent epidemics of different infectious diseases, spread by insects such as mosquitoes, will complete the list of disasters.

However, the biggest changes will occur in the Polar Regions. The thickness and area of the Arctic ice will decline. It will cause the permafrost’s melting. Once started, the change of the gas composition in the atmosphere will finally stabilize. The result will lead to the irreversible changes in the water circulation.

The most irrecoverable consequence of the global warming will be the sea level rising. It will cause the flooding and soil erosion worldwide, which together with the strong tropical cyclones will force millions of people to leave the inhabited places and move away from the coast.

The Sea Level Rising as the Most Significant Consequence of the Global Warming

The sea level rising is the most significant consequence of the global warming due to its large-scale and severe effects for the humankind. Its interrelation with the global temperature growing is discussed below. The effects of the world ocean water’s volume increase are considered further, as well.

The Direct Causes of the Sea Level Rising

There are two factors, which can cause the sea level rising. One of them is the increasing volume of the fluid. The sea level will rise if the melting of the glaciers and the polar ice cause the decrease of the liquid water’s volume, which is flowing into the oceans. If one puts into a glass of tea more ice, its level will grow. This effect causes approximately half of the whole sea level rising.

The other one is the thermal expansion. The world ocean is like a giant thermometer, the water of which is similar to the liquid in the thermometer ball. If the temperature of the ocean increases, the water volume, like any other liquid, will expand. This effect also leads to the enlargement of the water volume, which corresponds for approximately the second half of the measured rising of the sea level.

The scientists consider that the reasons for the sea level rising are “ocean thermal expansion, melting of glaciers, and wasting of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets” (McKay et al. 1). They entirely cover both main factors that can affect the increased water in the ocean, discussed earlier. Therefore, these reasons are considered more thoroughly below.

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