Global Warming and the Rise in Sea Level, Research Paper Example

Global warming has become a hot topic across the globe.  Global warming is referred to as the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and ocean.  The cause of the rise in the temperature is the causal effect of the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases that are present in the Earth’s atmosphere.  The greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and fluorinated gases. The gases enter the atmosphere through the burning, production, transport, and combustion of fossil fuels. (EPA, 2012) With the increase in changes due to greenhouse gases, there have been numerous documented scientific studies conducted indicating the effects of global warming, such as increases in extreme weather events, decrease in glaciers, decrease in abundance of coral reefs, changes to species diversity, increases in vector-borne diseases, and the rise in sea level.  (Wang and Chameides, 2005)  The current paper discusses the one of the effects of global warming, the rise in sea level.

The rise in sea level has become a topic of research in regard to global warming.  Temperature and sea level are correlated with each other for two specific reasons.  For one, the changes in the amount of water and ice present on land can either increase or decrease the amount of water in the ocean. Secondly, as water increases in temperature, it expands and can result in cumulative effects over the ocean depth on a whole.  (EPA, 2013)  Scientific evidence has shown that the sea level has risen an average of four to eight inches, which is greater than 10 times the average that has been recorded and estimated for the past 3,000 years. (Wang and Chameides, 2005)  In fact, scientists have indicated that the global sea level did not undergo a significant change until the late 19^th century and have estimated that the seal level is rising at a rate of 1.7 mm per year. In addition, it is projected that sea level will continue to increase in rate during the 21^st century. (IPCC, 2007)

The rise in sea level results in detrimental effects to the environment.  For instance, in 2009 the United States Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Oceanographic Atmosphere Agency have indicated that a rise in sea level greater than three feet would cause the wetlands in New York to North Carolina to be destroyed, which can further result in effects and degradation to the Florida Everglades.  (EDF, 2014) Currently, one-third of the marshes in the Chesapeake Bay have already been submerged, as well as mangroves in the Bermuda Islands.  Other effects such as the collapse of ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere have also been observed. (Wang and Chameides, 2005)

The changes in the rise in sea level can also have effects on human activities in the coastal regions.  For instance, increased sea levels can result in flooding and erosion, which increases damage to coastal infrastructures.  In addition, the increase can result in changes to the coastal ecosystem, changing the salt water environment into freshwater wetlands, which further changes diversity of animals.  (EPA, 2013)

Overall, global warming has many effects on the environment, with the rise in sea level one of the major concerns. Continued emission of greenhouse gases into the environment will have continued effects on the rise resulting in detrimental environmental problems, particularly in the coastal regions. Further research studies can help offer solutions and more awareness to the public in regard to both global warming and the rise in sea level.

References

EPA. (2012). Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases.html

EPA.  (2013).  Climate Change Indicators in the United States. Retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/oceans/sea-level.html.

EDF.  (2014).  Climate Change Impacts. Retrieved from: http://www.edf.org/climate/climate-change-impacts.

IPCC.  (2007). Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.  Retrieved from: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/climate/factsheets/issea.pdf

Wang, J. and Chameides, B.  (2005).  Global Warming’s Increasingly Visible Impacts. Environmental Defense.  Available at: www.environmentaldefense.org.