Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
the day” for a century or two, in practice
it won't. The cost will be too high. Beach
nourishment sand is not likely to stay on
a developed beach which has had a one-
meter (three-foot) sea level rise. Seawalls,
extending to depths sufficient to prevent
saltwater intrusion, will be too costly ex-
cept near major cities.
make some portions of the world more hab-
itable, the Arctic Ocean will become navi-
gable, etc., etc.
Perhaps all these assertions
are true, but the positive aspects of global
change cannot be viewed in a vacuum. Sea
level is definitely rising and coastal cit-
ies are threatened. Will the alleged posi-
tive aspects of increased atmospheric CO
2
and warmer temperatures offset the sea
level rise catastrophe facing coastal cities
and the acidification crisis facing marine
organisms?
myth
: Overall global change is a good thing.
For example, carbon dioxide might help
plant growth, atmospheric warming will
