darxus: (Default)
darxus ([personal profile] darxus) wrote2012-01-12 01:34 pm
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Looks like Boston won't be sinking due to global warming in my life time

Highest projected sea level increase by 2100: 200 cm = 2 m = 6.6 feet (from wikipedia)
Interactive map showing what areas would be flooded: http://geology.com/sea-level-rise/

I'm not suggesting that climate change isn't one of the many reasons we're doomed, or that there aren't lots of people currently living in places that might be likely to get flooded. Or that this kind of rise couldn't make hurricanes much more interesting in Boston. But I think somebody recently commented to me that Boston was in danger of being flooded due to sea level rise, and I just got an email from my mom on a slightly related subject, which caused me to try to look this stuff up.

[identity profile] temalyen.livejournal.com 2012-01-15 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
I once heard a scientist speaking on this subject, and his opinion was the climate shifting colder overall is what would doom us. He was of the opinion that, if the overall climate is getting warmer, it'd be more beneficial than anything else. It'd turn deserts into usable land, make more land farmable, and human technology could negate any negative changes due to rising water.

I should note this particular person (whose name I forget, but could find if you care) was on Coast to Coast AM (generally seen as the home of wackos), but the guest himself is fairly well respected. But it was definitely something interesting to think about.