The Effects Of Global Warming On Sea Levels

Although global warming has just recently seemed to become an issue, it has been a concern for some time. Among several concerns with global warming is the sea levels around the globe. There is a visual impact that is quite noticeable from Hawaii to North Carolina and even in Iceland. The link between the concerns with global warming and the sea levels is very troubling.

To clarify how global warming effects sea levels. The amount of precipitation over the past few years has increased by an estimated 2% within the last century. However, in many of the northern areas have had an estimated increase of 1% in precipitation every decade.

Where is this extra precipitation coming from? It comes from greenhouse gases, or commonly known as water vapor. As the temperature of the atmosphere increases water evaporates from the ground. The more evaporation there is the more clouds are formed, which in turn has an end result of more rain.

Another factor that plays an important role in the sea level is the polar ice caps. The glaciers and ice caps melt as the temperature rise. Once they have become warm enough to melt the water then is forced into the oceans. After a while with continuous melting of the ice caps and glaciers the sea level will be forced to rise.

As you can see, the sea level can and is being impacted greatly directly because of global warming. The sea level has increased approximately 6 inches in the Gulf Coast and the Mid-Atlantic, according to reports by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Areas such as New Orleans, Miami and Myrtle Beach are being directly effected by the rise in sea level.

Because of the rise in sea level, many location are being forced into building higher on land in order to try and ensure their safety. For example, North Carolina's outer banks is among the places that are currently building on higher ground. Other homes that are built on lower levels have placed their dwellings on top of tall wooden poles in an attempt to save them from danger.

Many scientists and researchers agree over the next several years we will see the impact global warming can pose on our land. It has been estimated by some that the sea level will increase by around one meter by the year 2100. On the lower of the estimates the increase has been estimated to be one tenth of a meter. Regardless, whether the experts can agree on the severity of the impact global warming will have on the sea level, everyone is in agreement that this is an issue that is serious now, as well as in our future.