Collapse Of Antarctic Ice Sheet Would Likely Put Washington, D.C. Largely Underwater

[NOW tense]

ScienceDaily (Feb. 6, 2009) —
University of Toronto and Oregon State University geophysicists have shown that should the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse and melt in a warming world – as many scientists are concerned it will – it is the coastlines of North America and of nations in the southern Indian Ocean that will face the greatest threats from rising sea levels.

The catastrophic increase in sea level, already projected to average between 16 and 17 feet around the world, would be almost 21 feet in such places as Washington, D.C., scientists say, putting it largely underwater. Many coastal areas would be devastated. Much of Southern Florida would disappear, according to researchers at Oregon State University.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090205142132.htm

[elleng]

1. gurgle gurgle gurgle

. . . .

[aquart]

2. And NYC. Long Island...

Yeah.

How are the Arab emirates looking in this? Israel? Britain?

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. There an app that tells you, here:

Middle East: http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=23.9260,50.1855&z=12&m=6
Britain: http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=51.4677,1.4941&m=6

The Netherlands will be devastated. It doesn't take into account sea-walls (so the Netherlands looks pretty bad already), but you have to wonder if anyone would try to maintain seawalls defending places 20 feet below sea level, anyway.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Much of the Netherlands is already 20' below sea level.

This would put them 40' under.

[aquart]

10. Because it's home. And who would take them in, anyway?

There are going to be millions of refugees. It will be beyond the capacity of any nation to absorb them.

[htuttle]

12. New York City will be New Venice someday...

...and it will smell even worse.

[ixion]

3. that's why I bought land in central florida

some day it will be beachfront. :+

[dbonds]

4. Of course that used to be swamp and probably would return to swamp

as the water table rises. Also imagine the rush of all those south florida snakes and critters being hearded into a small area in central florida.

[ixion]

6. yeah, not to mention all the people in so.fla...

the place would be crawling with critters of all sorts, I imagine. :rofl:

[corruptmewithpower]

7. Maybe people will start taking this global warming stuff seriously

Uh oh, I'd better get me a Hummer while I still can!

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. A boat would be a better investment. nt

[aquart]

11. You mean an ark.