political whore -
With respect to sea-level rise, it has been assumed, conventionally, that a warming will increase the rate of rise, because of the thermal expansion of ocean water and the melting of mountain glaciers. Certainly, when viewed on a millennial scale, sea level has been rising steadily. But when examined on a decadal scale, which is more appropriate to human intervention, sea-level rise is found to slow during periods of temperature increases, for example, during the temperature rise from 1900 to 1940 [Singer, 1997]. Evidently, increased evaporation, linked to warming, results in increased accumulation of ice in the polar regions, thereby lowering sea level. This conclusion seems to be backed by direct observation of ice accumulation, as well as by some modeling studies. A future modest warming should therefore slow down, not accelerate the ongoing rise of sea levels. |
