Timing A Rise In Sea Level: Is Planet Earth Drowning?

(Photo Credit: National Geographic)

Throughout the years the theory of global warming has been debated to an almost tiring extent. Some argue that the global warming is caused by massive emissions of greenhouse gases, others suggest that it is simply a cycle of heating and cooling that the Earth experiences every several thousand of years, and some even dismiss the theory of global warming in it's entirety.  With a theory surrounded by so many varying viewpoints it's hard to find a common ground which all parties agree upon.

Hard, but not impossible.

As scientists have compiled more and more evidence for the theory over the last several years, the latter of the aforementioned arguments (global warming isn't real) seems to have lost a good degree of traction. Regardless of the different theories on what the cause of global warming is between the two stronger arguments, it is becoming increasingly evident that the majority of people agree on one
thing: Earth's climate is indeed becoming warmer.

An obvious drawback of a warming Earth is the eminent threat of rising sea levels due to the melting ice sheets. In a recent article in the New York Times (click on hyperlink to read), Justin Gillis discusses Dr. Michael J. O'Leary's recent paper which analyzes how the collapse of ice sheets during the last interglacial period resulted in the rise of sea levels. During this period of warming before the last ice age, known as the "Eemian" epoch, sea levels rose by 17-feet which resulted in the sea levels "settling as close to 30 feet above modern levels".

In an interview with Gillis, Dr. O'Leary confidently presented his claim that the previous rise in sea levels in the Eemian epoch happened in about a thousand years.

Gillis' article went on to discuss how Benjamin Strauss of Climate Central, a firm believer that the emission of greenhouse gases accelerate global warming, predicts that by the year 2100 the Earth could see a 23-foot rise in sea levels unless emissions are cut which could thenceforth limit the rise to seven feet.

I believe that global warming is indeed accelerated by the emission of greenhouse gases, but I do not believe these emissions will cause as extreme of a rise in sea levels as Strauss theorizes. I do think the rise in sea levels will be faster than what it was in the Eemian epoch, though, due to greenhouse gases accelerating the process. 

I do, however, agree with Strauss' opinion that if actions are put into place to significantly cut these emissions (such as recycling, eating more organic foods, buying energy-efficient appliances, etc...) we can slow down the inevitable rise in sea level.

In theory, that sounds great. But with the multitude of varying viewpoints, it will be hard to convince everyone to do their part to help slow down the drowning of our planet. Humans don't like change; it's in our nature. Until we, as a human race, can unite as one to do our part to help slow down this oncoming calamity; we will continue to watch our planet drown.

(In case you missed the hyperlink provided above, you can find Gillis' article for the New York Times here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/13/science/timing-a-rise-in-sea-level.html?ref=earth&_r=0)