Let Some Good Come From Global Warming

The fact is that climate is changing, but most of the theories why the climate is changing are causing skepticism. Assuming that the global warming is mostly a result of a use of fossil fuels is dangerous as high levels of carbon dioxide are mostly a consequence of land-use changes. There is a possibility that global warming is a natural circle which is currently underway, which does not mean that carbon emission is not reinforcing it.

Although CO₂ played a significant role, the warming in previous warm periods was a result of changes in Earth’s rotation around the Sun. In cooler periods more CO₂ dissolved in oceans reducing the greenhouse effect while during the warming periods it was released back to the atmosphere increasing the warming rate. This time, though, things are different as humans released huge amounts of CO₂ to the atmosphere.

Sig Silber posted that claiming that carbon emission is the sole cause of global warming is wrong and that the IPCC considers that around a third of the impact is caused by land-use changes such as deforestation and creation of cities with the population as a significant factor as well.

The Academy of Sciences suggested two different solutions with one being carbon sequestration and the other sunlight cloaking with the latter being more radical.

Predictions suggest that sea levels will increase between 50 cm and 100+cm before the year 2100. This sea level change can be a positive from an economic standpoint as the USA coastline would have to be built with brand new infrastructure with dikes protecting the low lying areas.

The cost of these dikes would be around 54 billion pounds for 3700 miles of dikes spread over 30 to 70 year. By building tidal flow powered turbines some of the investment cost could be recovered. All this could be very beneficial and could stimulate the USA economy and solve part of its infrastructure issues.