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Politics : Politics of Energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bearcatbob who wrote (70068)	5/16/2016 8:01:32 PM
From: Gary Mohilner	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 86350

I don't believe it's about being scared, I believe it's about being realistic. Ocean levels will rise, but will it be an inch, or a foot in the next decade or less. Could we suddenly see several feet as major portions of Antarctica sink into the sea. None of this would threaten mankind, but damage in waterfront areas could be extensive. I have a boat in Marina del Rey. At the highest high tides I've seen our sea walls probably have a couple feet dry. The problem could be that if ocean temperature warm, if storms worsen, and if the ocean rises a foot, it's not hard to imagine storm surges during high tides that flood over the top of the sea walls. Would it completely destroy the marina, probably not, but would it do significant damage, almost certainly. If we do nothing, the oceans will rise, if we do something, they'll still rise, but the rate will be lower. The more we do, the slower the rate. If we hold the rate to a foot this century, I believe it's a problem that can be dealt with, but if it's ten feet, it could be catastrophic. Much the same can be said about rising temperatures, keep the rate down and it can easily be dealt with, but if the rise is extremely rapid, things like agriculture couldn't keep up with the rate of change. California is certainly seen as one of the most desirable places in the U.S. to live. While I still believe that's the case, for the last few years it's truly been more humid each year regardless of the temperature increase. As a kid living in the San Fernando Valley I didn't mind being outside during 100 degree weather because it was a very dry heat. Now you swelter at 80 degrees because of the higher humidity. It's not a problem as nearly everyone lives in air conditioned homes and drives their air conditioned cars. Now I live near the beach and generally never felt air conditioning was needed, until last Summer. I finally broke down and got a unit to cool down our bedroom and it was a big help. I suspect that if it gets worse over the next few years that central air will be found in our future. At that point I'll also probably go for solar power, my current bills don't warrant it at this time. Of course if the most pessimistic of scientists find they were not pessimistic enough, then we'd really have problems as most of the polar ice thawed, ocean levels were up very dramatically, perhaps as much as 40 feet, and storms were worse than anything we've ever seen throughout the world, that could scare anyone. I don't believe that will be the case, nor do I believe their is a single tipping point, but I do believe we're better off doing something, rather than doing nothing. Gary