, Global warming: causes effects & the future,12 April 2002) Both these figures seem to correlate with each other, but only the people who believe Climate change is happening would agree with this.
Global warming has become probably the major environmental issue of our time, and although scientists have often been slow to commit themselves about cause and effect, there is no doubt that the temperature of our planet is increasing. Climatic changes have happened in the past, but recent evidence suggest that the recent increase in carbon dioxide in the troposphere allows incoming short wave radiation from the sum to pass through and warm the earth. Some of this radiation is reflected back from the earth’s surface into space at a longer wavelength. Greenhouse gases in the Troposphere such as carbon dioxide, absorb some of this long wave radiation and radiate it back again towards the earths surface.
This trapping of heat is known as the greenhouse effect and is part of the natural process of heat balance in the atmosphere. In fact it is essential for life on earth, without the greenhouse effect “the planet would be about 30 dgrees celcius colder, provided the amount of Co2 and water vapour in the atmosphere stay the same then the amount of solar radiation is unchanged, then the temperature of the earth remains in balance“(Johnson RL, 2009, Minnieapolis, Lerner Publications Company, Understanding Global Warming).
This natural balance however has been influenced by human activity. The atmospheric concentration of Co2 has increased by about 15% in the last 100 years and the current rate of increase is estimated to be about 0.4% per year, this together with the increasing level of other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide has upset the natural balance and has led to global warming. It is generally agreed that these continuing atmospheric changes will lead to a further rise in temeperature, but is difficult to predict the extent or speed of change. If Co2 levels double then the temperature could rise between 2-3 degrees celcius with greater rises at higher latitudes perhaps in the order of 7-8 degrees Celsius.
Global warming will also have major implications for climate patterns, sea levels and economic activitiy.
If the temperature of the earth rose by about “2-3 degrees Celsius, and at 7-8 degrees at higher latatitudes then the change in sea levels would be very noticeable“(Redfern D, Skinner M, 2003, Advanced Geography, Chapter 9), even dramatic as the long wave radiation from the sun will not be able to penetrate the thick smoggy layer of Co2 and water vapour, the heat circulates around the planet. The heat alone will cause the sea water to expand as the individual water molecules become more excited taking up more space. Furthermore when the ice caps melt more water enters the surrounding oceans and with the increase in heat this brings more water up into the atmosphere through evaporation, not to mention the fact that the worlds oceans are already a major natural storage of carbon dioxide this will bring more of Co2 into the atmosphere. The moisture in the air rises to the troposphere only to fall as rain in areas where it used to fall as snow, and because of the temperature difference between water and ice the ice caps will melt at a faster rate and more water will run-off back to the ocean.
This along with the fact that, most of the artic shelf will dissapear into the artic ocean, which could potentially cause sea levels to “rise as much as 15 cm per decade“(Advanced Geography, Redfern D, Skinner M) will be sufficient enough to cause serious flooding in coastal areas and increased erosion in others, especially in areas with no sea defences. For low lying countries such as the Nertherlands and Bangladesh, and for many Pacific and Indian ocean Islands, rising sea levels will have catastophic consequences. Man places will experience warmer summers. “One estimate for the British Isles suggests that by 2030, average temperatures could rise by over 2 degrees Celsius“(Brooker C, Lansbury T, 2009, The Real Global Warming Disaster, London). The British Isles has a mild climate compared to that of continental areas and the tropics, continental areas could have reduced rainfall, producing desert-like conditions in places that were previously good for agriculture. “Also areas that also see droughts today will experience them on a whole new level“(Brooker C, Lansbury T, 2009, The Real Global Warming Disaster, London), in areas like Africa and the surrounding countries of the Sahara, which could potentially become twice its size, (which is a process called desertification), allowing no possible chance of survival In these areas.
Some climatologists believe that, if global warming leads to changes in the pattern of ocean currents, the UK could experience a much colder climate. It is possible that the “Gulf stream and the North Atlantic drift could be diverted away”(Michaels PJ, Cato Institute, 300th May 2010, Climate of Extremes: Global Warming Science They Don't Want You to Know)
and, without the warming effects of these currents, (which happen because the warmer currents heat the surrounding air next to the sea and then these prevailing winds come from the west to keep our climate moderate), the UK would have a climate similar to that of Siberia.
Such climate changes would have a widespread effect on vegetation, wildlife and agriculture. “The ability of some regions to provide food for the mass population would diminish“(Michaels PJ, Cato Institute, 300th May 2010, Climate of Extremes: Global Warming Science They Don't Want You to Know), especially in areas that are already suffering without the effects of climate change, leading to mass migrations as many people search for new areas in which to grow crops and where life can be sustained. Due to the fact that such large areas will be affect especially with the droughts of Africa many area to seek refuge will already be overcrowded with resources running scarce, reducing their quality of life dramatically. Some areas though could benefit, areas such as Canada and Russia will cool down causing most of the ice here to melt creating more fertile soils.
“There will also be a huge cost of providing substantial flood defences all around the world but mainly in these areas and many british estuaries may need defences similar to the Thames Barrier“(Houghton J, The press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge,2004, third edition, first published: 1994, Global warming: the complete briefing, Lion Publishing Ple).
In areas such as Hull, which is and area that could potentially be at risk of flooding in the near future as a side effect on climate change, defences along the river Humber would be very appropriate. One characteristic of Hull is the rlative flatness of the city ranging from 2-4 metres, with some at or below sea level. The environment agency own and operate the Tidal surge barrier at the mouth of the Humber , which prevents surge tides from flooding upstream, “protecting around 10,000 peoplefrom floofing“( Ice, institution of civil engineers). The main factors are that the city is too low lying, and due to its flatness it has to be constantly drained by pumps, and when a storm surge is predicted the barrier is closed, but the ports are of national strategic importance.
A possible idea into a solution is land reclamation, like in other countries, land reclamation has been practised areound the world for centuries. The UK has a long standing history of reclaiming land for agriculture. The “Netherlands, Hong Kong, Tokyo, San Francisco, have all been part of reclamation. More recently Dubai has made extensive land reclamation with a firm real eatate agenda, where the Palm Islands stand in the Persian Gulf, shaped like palm trees to deflect the incoming storm surge“( Ice, institution of civil engineers)”.
For Hull defending the Humber is to endure the sea water does not enter the existing built environment and to attack is to advance and step seaward off tnhe existing coastline by building out onto the water which reduces the need to sprawl into the coutryside. There are several means of building out onto the water that have been used for centries. Stilts that allow water to rise, fall and surge underneath inhabitable spaces have been used on piers around the world“( Ice, institution of civil engineers), as well as individual buildings floating structures from boats to pontoons, have been used for housing and for civil infrastructure.
Energy can also be created of the fat flowing tides of the Humber, through Tidal energy, which is transformed into electricity, using internal rotating magnets and copper wire, In its basic form, which according to Pulse Joint Md, Howard Jones “tidal stream power is set to play a major part in the meeting of the UK’s future energy needs“. A project called the DTI project had been put into “place in 2007, starting with a grant of £878,000. The first stage, was to create a 1/5th (called the pulse stream 1000) scale version of the model and place it in the Humber“.( Ice, institution of civil engineers)” The system uses high performance hydrofoils similar to aeroplane wings, which move up and down the esturay twice daily and convert the energuy into elctricity to fed back on shore. The fact that the “Pulse stream 1000 operates in shallow waters close to shore means that the power can be supplied fast and efficiently to places of higher demand“( Ice, institution of civil engineers). The pulse is not much smaller than a car and can produce up to 100kw of enery which is enough to power 70 homes.
(2189 words).
References:
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Facing up to rising sea levels: Attack or Defend
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Facing up to rising sea levels: Attack or Defend
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Facing up to rising sea levels: Attack or Defend