Comments on: Venice flooding provides glimpse of what’s to come

By: David B. Benson

David B. Benson — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:52:17 +0000

Ice sheets are massive and so take some time to melt.

But melt they will if it is warm enough.

It is warm enough in Greenland.

At least 4 meters sea level rise to come.

Count on it.

By: Estetik

Estetik — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:24:18 +0000

Finally something positive from the ano maSSistas, thank you ano Franco, I will change the word fighter as soon as I can. Don’t get confuse, it means I fight for democracy in my country, off course you already new this.

By: jorleh

jorleh — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:18:34 +0000

Helsinki, the capital city of Finland, is constructing just now flooding barriers. The point is that the ground is elevating 60 cm per century in the aftermath of the last glacial maximum, all the time still. The sea level rising today is much more than 60 cm per century according to this example. And we know, the sea level rising has taken only it´s first step.

By: Barry

Barry — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:32:01 +0000

Also, many of the prime estuaries in the world are backed by mega-cities.

As sea level rises these estuaries can’t retreat inland…so they are shrinking quickly. We are already protecting our cities and houses with riprap, walls and barriers on ever-increasing scale.

The inter-tidal and shallow water areas of estuaries are the most biologically productive areas on the planet and crucial for many marine species. This shrinking of prime estuary areas is already happening everywhere and well studied, but very poorly covered in media.

And just imagine an estuary ecosystem trying to occupy the the concrete matrix and toxic brew of a flooded mega-city once it does happen.

We are definitely heading for a forced “adaptation” to “misery”.

By: paulm

paulm — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:17:24 +0000

…”At that time the challenge for all coastal cities will be staggering — if we haven’t sharply reversed carbon emissions and avoided 800 to 1000 ppm.”

Were in for sea level rise big time what ever we do now (Check with Hansen).

Venice is toast. They are going to be one of the first big cities to have to retreat and will demonstrate what others have in store in the wake of sea level rise.