Global Warming: An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases.
Global warming could do more than just melt polar ice. It could change our maps, and displace people from cities and tropical islands. Few recent examples would be like Dubai having snowfall or Mumbai dropping to 10 degrees in winter.
But there is a twist to all of this..thats what we call change :)
Is the world in severe danger from sea level rise?
No. Research from Nils-Axel Mörner, professor of paleogeophysics and geodynamics at Stockholm University, demonstrates that current sea levels are within the range of sea level oscillation over the past 300 years, while the satellite data show virtually no rise over the past decade. The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) foresees sea-level rise of between 0.1 and 0.9 meters by 2100. The Earth experienced a sea-level rise of 0.2 meters over the past century with no noticeable ill effects.
Another study relevant to this controversy is Zwally et al. (2005), which examined changes in ice mass "from elevation changes derived from 10.5 years (Greenland) and 9 years (Antarctica) of satellite radar altimetry data from the European Remote-sensing Satellites ERS-1 and -2." The researchers report a net contribution of the three ice sheets to sea level of +0.05 ± 0.03 millimeters per year. CO2Science.Org puts this in perspective: "At the current sea-level-equivalent ice-loss rate of 0.05 millimeters per year, it would take a fullmillennium to raise global sea level by just 5 cm, and it would take fully 20,000 years to raise it a single meter."
Weren’t recent extreme weather events caused by global warming?
There is no provable link between weather events like Hurricane Katrina and global warming. For example, research by German scientists has demonstrated that the devastating floods in central Europe in 2002 were perfectly normal events when compared against the historical record. Allegations that extreme weather has been more damaging recently do not take into account the fact that mankind is now living and investing resources in more dangerous areas. Moreover, the World Meteorological Organization has acknowledged that increases in the recorded number of extreme weather events may be due to better observation and reporting. A top expert from the IPCC resigned in January 2005 in protest that IPCC science was being misrepresented by claims that last year’s hurricane season was exacerbated by global warming. Most hurricane scientists agree that there is no way that Hurricane Katrina can be blamed on global warming.
Isn’t global warming all cost and no benefit?
No. Even substantial global warming is likely to be of benefit to the United States. As eminent Yale Professor Robert Mendehlson testified before the Senate in 2000, "Climate change is likely to result in small net benefits for the United States over the next century. The primary sector that will benefit is agriculture. The large gains in this sector will more than compensate for damages expected in the coastal, energy, and water sectors, unless warming is unexpectedly severe. Forestry is also expected to enjoy small gains. Added together, the United States will likely enjoy small benefits of between $14 and $23 billion a year and will only suffer damages in the neighborhood of $13 billion if warming reaches 5°C over the next century. Recent predictions of warming by 2100 suggest temperature increases of between 1.5°C and 4°C, suggesting that impacts are likely to be beneficial in the U.S."
All said and done any interference with mother nature has been harmful to us.. so i am not trying to say here that Global Warming is helpful rather people should be aware about it to avoid being misled.
