Global Warming & rising sea level

True, if the ice on the Arctic ocean (north pole) were to melt, it wouldn't affect the sea level at all. No one disputes that.

However, if the ice covering Greenland were to melt, it would raise sea level by 16-19 inches. And that is a pretty big number considering the impact it would have on the coast, especially during storms.

Not saying I buy all the 'global warming' scare tactics; in fact I think 80% of it is false information and bogus claims. But I also think it is a worth-while subject that has at least some merit. I really hope its cyclical, but no reason not to do what we can with the environment on a global level. I think most agree that a cleaner environment can only benefit us and the earth.

Well put. Doesn't matter the debat. Looking out for nature and limiting our effects on it can't be bad. Go to Los Angeles. Don't you think those kids would be better off if that smog wasn't there? Worse than that, go to the Danube. That river banks the largest aviary estuary in the world. Yet the fish are inedible and the water is dangerously toxic. How can that be good for anybody. Put the environment aside, its still no good to do what were doing.

I'll leave all the endless debate to the scientists who will publish studies backing whose ever position pays for the study. It's all bogus. Personally I just go by what I see. I see garbage in our waters. I see garbage on our land. I see a planet that has had most of it's forrests leveled. I see those beautiful colors above LA, NY, Bejing and elsewhere that are not the result of anything nature has made. I see glaciers receding all over the world. I see incredible storms coming in rapid succession. I see earthquakes in NY. What I do know is that not polluting our land, water and atmosphere can't be a bad thing. It may cost some companies money to comply, but to that I say 'Oh well'. They want to pollute, let them prove it's harmless. Let the CEO camp out in his smoke stack with his family for a couple of weeks.

warming

If you look at historical data on the evolution of the "human" as we know him today, you will find strong evidence that the transition from ape to man took an accelerated leap during the massive climate changes in Africa millions of years ago. Massive and indeed creeping climate change is a fact of the planets life , to think we can "change" that is pure stupidity, to help minimize the destructive impact that some human interference can have is a practical approach but cannot be done in a period of short duration, limited knowledge still restricts our ability to make dramatic change in a short time and some of these so called changes being applied today are arguably counter productive due to policy makers trying to appease all the people all the time...

Huh? Before the industrial revolution the was no such thing as air polution. 200 years ago this continent was mostly forrest that took in carbon dioxide and gave us oxygen. A hundred years ago there were no plastics or nuclear waste. Before the factories, the Hudson River was pristine. We certainly can make dramatic change in a short time. We just balk at making change for the better because it costs businesses money.
Will it affect the climate? I don't know. I'll have to buy a scientist to write me a study. All I know is that it stands a better chance of doing some good than sitting around with our thumbs up a smoke stack. We already know that what we're doing is directly not healthy for living creatures. Maybe we'll reap a second benefit by making our race last a little longer.

I agree with you on one level. If indeed this is cyclic, which I believe in the most part; then yes you are correct. Natural CO2 and SO2 come from natural and man-made sources, and we may never know the exact amounts given off by nature vs. man-made. So yes I see that point.

However, there are strong evidences of our involvement that start effecting micro-marine biology that eventually has an affect on the world. What are we now, 7 billion people? To think we don't impact it is beyond my comprehension. And if we do impact it, to say we can't help change it is also beyond my comprehension.

With major impact on our environment in industry, I would think if we did something, there could be a big impact. Some of the waterways here in Washington State mirror some of those in Eastern Europe. Look at the Duwamish river in Seattle area. To say that places like this don't effect the overall environment I think is incorrect. I don't think a butterfly can create a tornado, but I do think constant industrial pollution can. I personally think we can and are starting to do something about it. Not everywhere, but in many places, and its a start.

This is from someone who really believes global warming is only a small part true. (I own a large 4x4 SUV ). But to see some of these places and think it doesn't effect the overall environment is beyond me. Maybe I should move these posts somewhere else because only a small part is about global warming, its more about pollution. Somewhat tied, but oh well.

Global warming / Ozone layer . .. .

Funny how goverments make it law for cars to be co2 free or have restrictions ... of the amount of co2 that can be released into the atmosphere when .. .

1945 over a period .60 years Nuclear testing has been abundant yet no scientist or any group will say that some of the blame must lay with the nations that have continually tested nuclear weapons ..

And lets not forgetting the Chernobyl accident and Fukishima plant .. a country dumb enough to build a nuclear plant in a country is and always has been prone to Earth quakes [ Yet international law permits the buildings of such plants in area prone to natural disaster ..

Plus lets also take into consideration Jet travel .. nothing is ever said about the emissions from passenger jets and the endless Military Ops .. yet it's ok to use the car / truck as the scapegoat for Global warming issues ..

It's all political BS and now we see local council playin the recycle card .. seriously are they that ignorant that recycling by outlets have been happenin for years especially by breweries that take back empties because it's chaper for them to recycle thus keep costs down .. yet the goverment local councils are making such a song and dance over it and how private companies charge you £300 each time if they happen to find the wrong rubbish in a bin ...lolol

Surely testing nuclear must have played some effect on the planet as it's we have seen the effect of on humans be it hiroshima / nagasaki or christmas Island or New mexico or in the wastelands of Russia ..

Plus the deep core testing must have played some part in the increase of Earth quakes ..

Yes some nations have seen erratic weather .. but here in the UK we might get decent periods of sunshine it's still minor blip because if the weather was really changing and the sea level also increase some of those seaside links would be facing threat ..and our summer here in the uk would persuade the masses to stay home instead of heading abroad ..

Now what would make you think it's all political B.S.?
(Today's headline: Obama halts tighter smog rule, citing 'regulatory burdens' Republicans wanted it shelved; critics see it as 'huge loss for public health' )
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44372992/ns/us_news-environment/

Polution

The last big eruption in Chile blasted more pollution into the air than all the man made co2 in the past 50 yrs..and that was one earthquake, all the savings us humans make are negated in one big eruption, kinda sad ain't it ?

If only it was an either/or situation, but we're adding ours on top of what nature gives us, and quite frankly nature never even heard of most of the polutants we're putting out. It's almost like saying that Kadafi didn't kill anywhere's near the number that Hitler did, so why is everybody upset with Kadafi.

Did you mean Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)?

As far as CO2, I thought the highest estimates was in the neighborhood of 250,000 tons or so. Most professionals in the field expect that iceland volcano is between 150,000 and 300,000 tons per day. with more evidence that it is the lower side.
I thought global emissions was at about 30-35 billion tons per year or so...

So that would make volcanic CO2 emissions substantially less, even compared year to year, much less 50 years.

But not sure about SO2, which i know volcanos emit a lot of..

I found this interesting:
http://news.discovery.com/earth/volcanoes-co2-people-emissions-climate-110627.html

Here is a shortened synopsis, but i recommend reading the whole short article.

----------

Despite statements made by climate change deniers, volcanoes release a tiny fraction of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by human activities every year.

While there is uncertainty in the measurements--researchers estimate between 0.13 and 0.44 billion metric tons per year, with their best estimates between 0.15 and 0.26 billion tons--even the highest end of the range is dwarfed by anthropogenic emissions of 35 billion metric tons in 2010.

In yet another comparison, Gerlach reported that in order for volcanic emissions to match those made by humans, the May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens eruption would need to happen every 2.5 hours. The June 15, 1991, Mount Pinatubo eruption would need to occur every 12.5 hours.

"There is no way you can escape the fact that volcanoes are releasing a tiny amount of emissions right now," said Bernard Marty of the Centre de Recherches Petrographiques et Geochimiques in Nancy, France. "There is no doubt about this."

And NYC was the source of the worlds greatest and most renowned oyster fishery.

The end of that was not a natural process unless "dominion theology" rules your life.

Not quite NYC, but close. Oyster Bay, LI. Best clams were from Great South Bay (also no more), and then there's Peconic Bay Scallops. They're trying to farm them now to hopefully bring them back in 50 years or so,

Here's a link to a part of your history and book that makes a great late Summer read. Long Island wasn't even in the running.

http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/06/01...tertwined-story-new-york-city-and-its-oysters

Ah but it was. Blue Point is on the Great South Bay and Rockaway in on Jamaica Bay, both on LI's south shore. However, although I'm old, this was a bit befor my time "In 1927, the last of the New York oyster beds was closed, primarily because of toxicity." Oysters are still taken from Oyster Bay, but I'm not sure if the commercial operation is even still operating. The Blue Pt. Oyster co. eventually became the Blue Pt. Clam co. and continued in business until a few years ago when the bay became too polluted from storm water runoff and the land too coveted by developers. Oysters came from many locations in the NE and in the 20th century NY was a so-so player. Up in the Cape area (Buzzards Bay, etc.) there is a rich oyster history that survives today. LI also had excellent clams and blue claw crabs although I wouldn't say it was their claim to fame. Peconic Bay scallops however were a different story. These days the scallops are farmed since being killed off, and you'll find maybe half a dozen clamers out pulling their rakes. Crabs are still caught at the docks, but you don't see the big ones often anymore. Bayman is a vanishing profession here, because you just can't pull a rake all day and afford a half million (and up) dollar home.

..a few sobering videos...


Earth Under Water - Worldwide Flooding | Sea Level Rise (SLR)

Miami, New Orleans and New York City completely under water it's a very real possibility if sea levels continue to rise. In Earth Under Water we'll see these events unfold as leading experts forecast how mankind will be impacted if global warming continues. They'll break down the science behind these predictions and explore ways humanity could adapt, including engineering vast dams near San Francisco, or building floating cities outside of New York.
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......combine that with this occurrence only two years ago (be sure to see the comparison with the size of that calving and the island of Manhattan)

"CHASING ICE" captures largest glacier calving ever filmed

Rather interestingly for those of us who live on the east coast of the USA, we certainly wouldn't believe 2015 was a record warm year ....WOW

...but look at this
Earth had warmest winter on record

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/03/18/record-warm-winter-globe/24957737/

That calving video is incredible. What's happened in just the last 10 years is devastating. Call me pessimistic, but I think our stewardship may have run its course. Maybe we didn't do so good.