MediaToday
News | Wednesday, 09 December 2009

What consequences can we expect, and what can we do?

Many of the effects of global warming have been well-documented. It is the precise extent that is difficult to predict.

Ministry of Climate and Energy of Denmark

Predicting the consequences of global warming is one of the really difficult tasks for the world’s climate researchers. Firstly, because the natural processes that cause precipitation, storms, increases in sea level and other expected effects of global warming are dependent on many different factors. Secondly, because it is difficult to predict the size of the emissions of greenhouse gases in the coming decades, as this is determined to a great extent by political decisions and technological breakthroughs.
Many of the effects of global warming have been well-documented, and observations from real life are very much consistent with earlier predictions. It is the precise extent that is difficult to predict. Among the effects that can be predicted are:
More droughts and more flooding:
When the weather gets warmer, evaporation from both land and sea increases. This can cause drought in areas of the world where the increased evaporation is not compensated for by more precipitation. The extra water vapor in the atmosphere has to fall again as extra precipitation, which can cause flooding other places in the world.
Less ice and snow:
Glaciers are shrinking rapidly at present. The trend is for the ice to melt faster than estimated in the IPCC’s latest report. In areas that are dependent on melt water from mountain areas, this can cause drought and a lack of drinking water. According to the IPCC, up to a sixth of the world’s population lives in areas that will be affected by this.
More extreme weather incidents:
The warmer climate will most probably cause more heatwaves, more cases of heavy rainfall and also possibly an increase in the number and/or severity of storms.
Rising sea level:
The sea level rises for two reasons. Partly because of the melting ice and snow, and partly because of the thermal expansion of the sea. Thermal expansion takes a long time, but even an increase in temperature of two degrees Celsius is expected, in due time, to cause a rise in the water level of almost a metre.

 

PRINT THIS ARTICLE



Other News

Copenhagen told this was warmest decade

Failure in Copenhagen is not an option

Nine EU nations to build offshore wind power grid

The essentials in Copenhagen

What consequences can we expect, and what can we do?

GWU, Forum in move to sideline UHM, CMTU

Fenech explains Budget measures in personalised letter to self-employed

European banks warned to ‘come clean’

Maltese company in alliance partnership agreement with Austrian environment agency

“amalgamation plan” underway for VAT, IRD, Customs and TCU

Government committed to efficient issuance of entry Visas

ECB keeps rates unchanged and announces details of refinancing operations up to April 7, 2010

3.5 per cent interest, one year euro term deposit

Izola Bank launches euro term deposit

Altaro software launched in Malta

 

 


09 December 2009
ISSUE NO. 611

_____________

Malta Today

illum

Collaborating partners:


www.german-maltese.com


 

 

Copyright © MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 07, Malta, Europe Tel. ++356 21382741, Fax: ++356 21385075
Managing Editor: Saviour Balzan