Global warming continues no matter what we do
18 March 2005
by Richard Conan-Davies
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According to super computer simulations developed by National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the US, global warming is likely to continue with an increase in temperature of around half a degree even if greenhouse gas emmisions stabilised. Lead author Gerald Meehl explained that "Many people don't realize we are committed right now to a significant amount of global warming and sea level rise because of the greenhouse gases we have already put into the atmosphere," This model is based on the idea of thermal inertia. It's a bit like a rolling ball or large ship trying to stop. If it starts of at a certain speed it takes a long time for friction to slow it down. Not taking into account the fresh water from melting ice sheets and glaciers, the sea level rise could at least double due to thermal expansion alone. According to the several models the worst would suggest an average temperature rise of 3.5°C (6.3°F) and sea level rise from thermal expansion of 30 centimeters (12 inches) by 2100 is the with continued high levels of green house emissions. |
 We could be up for some rough weather according to the latest computer simulations predicting global warming. |
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Original news release from National Centre for Atmospheric Research
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