Science

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts) Thu Mar 29, 2012, 04:28 AM Mar 2012

Scientists pin down historic sea level rise

(Reuters) - The collapse of an ice sheet in Antarctica up to 14,650 years ago might have caused sea levels to rise between 14 and 18 metres (46-60 feet), a study showed on Wednesday, data which could help make more accurate climate change predictions.

The melting of polar ice could contribute to long-term sea level rise, threatening the lives of millions, scientists say.

Sea levels have increased on average about 18 centimetres (7 inches) since 1900 and rapid global warming will accelerate the pace of the increase, experts say, putting coastlines at risk and forcing low-lying cities to build costly sea defenses.

Scientists last month said that thinning glaciers and ice caps were pushing up sea levels by 1.5 millimetres a year, and experts forecast an increase of as much as two metres by 2100.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/28/us-sea-level-ice-idUKBRE82R13E20120328

4 replies

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Scientists pin down historic sea level rise (Original Post) dipsydoodle Mar 2012 OP

Paging Noah. Broderick Mar 2012 #1

The other way round: This catastrophe might have inspired the Noah-tale. DetlefK Mar 2012 #2

Many legends in word of mouth lore Broderick Mar 2012 #3

do you ever feel FirstLight Mar 2012 #4

Broderick

(4,578 posts)

1. Paging Noah.

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Thu Mar 29, 2012, 05:50 AM

Mar 2012

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)

2. The other way round: This catastrophe might have inspired the Noah-tale.

Reply to Broderick (Reply #1)

Thu Mar 29, 2012, 06:38 AM

Mar 2012

12,000 BC, that's approx the beginning of the pharaonic-egyptian culture.

I think, stories of this catastrophe persisted as legends and fairy-tales. Some millenia later this tale was assimilated by the early Jews and became the basis for the story of Noah and the flood.

Broderick

(4,578 posts)

3. Many legends in word of mouth lore

Reply to DetlefK (Reply #2)

Thu Mar 29, 2012, 06:59 AM

Mar 2012

were steeped in some truths. Read the study the other day of Native American verbal history on the upper west coast and how it lines up with a historical tsunami.

FirstLight

(13,360 posts)

4. do you ever feel

Reply to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Thu Mar 29, 2012, 11:48 AM

Mar 2012

that they continue to downplay the actual events happening now? ...so the seas have risen 'millimeters'...and the effects could be disastrous by 2100..?

i wonder how long it will REALLY be before the oceans eat the coastlines

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