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Signs of Global Warming Events That May Happen Great Barrier Reef Rising Sea Level

Climate Change Is Here

Although there are people who still believe that climate change is a myth, or is a natural phenomenon, which happens every few hundred or thousand years, I think it's here and we, humankind, have caused it.

If you disagree, that's fine; we're all entitled to our own opinions, but the evidence is mounting, and scientists are discovering more data all the time. More than our weather is affected by this, it will impact on our economy quite severely.

Here are a couple of links regarding global warming, which you may find interesting.

http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/proof-of-climate-change-unequivocal

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html

Some signs of global warming:

Periods of unusually hot weather
Arctic and Antarctic becoming warmer
Heat Waves
Ice around the world melting, on mountains and glaciers
Warmer water in the oceans
Rising sea-level, causing flooding to low lying countries

The type of events that may happen with global warming:

Spring arrives early
Coral begins to bleach and die
Droughts and wildfires become widespread
Storms and flooding become more frequent

Some of these things are already happening, and those most noticeable here in Australia are droughts in the Southern part of the country, and storms, floods, and more severe cyclones in the Northern area.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef In Danger

Our Great Barrier Reef is also suffering the effects of ocean warming, and in parts, the coral is dying at an unprecedented rate. An online search using the words "great barrier reef coral dying" brought up more than 30,000 results! If the coral dies, then the sea-life which relies on it also dies. If there is no Great Barrier Reef, then tourism to the area ceases, and thus the economic life of the area suffers.

Rising Sea Level

"The 20th century saw the greatest increase in temperature of any century during the last thousand years, and the last decade was the warmest since records began. As the temperature rises, so does the sea level – with profound consequences for us all."

........http://www.science.org.au/nova/082/082key.htm

The above is from a website published by The Australian Academy of Science, which makes interesting reading.

If our sea level were to rise by 50 cm, then many Pacific island nations, such as Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Maldives would be seriously affected. In fact, some governments are even now considering evacuation plans.

Countries with low-lying coastal areas, such as Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma and the Netherlands, would lose large areas of their coastlines.

All of these countries would have their fresh water supplies contaminated by saltwater.

Global warming is a catastophe, and it's not just waiting to happen, it's happening now. We can all do our part in using less energy and reducing greenhouse gasses, but it's too far gone to stop. If we stopped doing any of the things which cause global warming, then it will still take over one hundred years for any reversal to be evident.

It's almost too late.........