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Update Date: 2009/04/16 07:35 F35 Chen Zhengyi (AFP Paris 15th)
A groundbreaking study on the fluctuations in sea levels during the last interglacial period between two ice ages reveals that ocean levels rose by approximately three meters within just a few decades due to the collapse of massive ice sheets. Earth is currently in a similar interglacial period.
The lead researcher of the study, Paul Blanchon from the National University of Mexico, stated that the findings indicate this scenario is "very likely to occur within the next 100 years." If it happens, it would redraw global coastlines and cause immense suffering for humanity.
The report will be published in tomorrow's issue of the scientific journal *Nature*.
Many scientists believe that rising sea levels are among the most severe consequences of global warming.
In 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted that sea levels could rise by up to 59 centimeters by 2100 due solely to the expansion of warmer ocean waters.
Even this relatively moderate increase would render several small island nations uninhabitable and disrupt the livelihoods of tens of millions of people in low-lying delta regions, particularly in Asia and Africa.
However, more recent studies have raised alarms about the potential impact of collapsing ice sheets in West Antarctica and Greenland. The frozen water stored in these ice sheets is enough to raise global sea levels by at least 13 meters.
A rapid three-meter rise in sea levels would cause severe damage to dozens of major cities worldwide, including Shanghai, Calcutta, New Orleans, Miami, and Dhaka. (Translator: Chen Zhengyi)
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090416/ 19/ 1hxnm. html
Global Sea Levels Likely to Rise Sharply This Century, Triggering Disasters
A groundbreaking study on the fluctuations in sea levels during the last interglacial period between two ice ages reveals that ocean levels rose by approximately three meters within just a few decades due to the collapse of massive ice sheets. Earth is currently in a similar interglacial period.
The lead researcher of the study, Paul Blanchon from the National University of Mexico, stated that the findings indicate this scenario is "very likely to occur within the next 100 years." If it happens, it would redraw global coastlines and cause immense suffering for humanity.
The report will be published in tomorrow's issue of the scientific journal *Nature*.
Many scientists believe that rising sea levels are among the most severe consequences of global warming.
In 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted that sea levels could rise by up to 59 centimeters by 2100 due solely to the expansion of warmer ocean waters.
Even this relatively moderate increase would render several small island nations uninhabitable and disrupt the livelihoods of tens of millions of people in low-lying delta regions, particularly in Asia and Africa.
However, more recent studies have raised alarms about the potential impact of collapsing ice sheets in West Antarctica and Greenland. The frozen water stored in these ice sheets is enough to raise global sea levels by at least 13 meters.
A rapid three-meter rise in sea levels would cause severe damage to dozens of major cities worldwide, including Shanghai, Calcutta, New Orleans, Miami, and Dhaka. (Translator: Chen Zhengyi)
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090416/ 19/ 1hxnm. html