Island disappears into sea?

[Dunjohn]

Why is there a beach in that image?

If the water level really was abnormally high, shouldn't it have gone beyond the beach?

This story is the greatest piece of bull I've seen in a long time.

[def]

I don't want to argue here as much as anyone, but some points to consider:

-the island submerged, not sank. Other islands, notably in Polynesia have had a similar problem. These are islands that are largely at a low elevation, and see their land mass shrink year by year as the beach creeps inward. It isn't a big problem for most continents that are well above sea level.

-There is no doubt that the Earth goes through shifts, but it shouldn't surprise people to know humans have an effect on the planet. As someone mentioned, it's considered that humans caused a lot of the desertification in the Sahara. But also in the Middle East. It is called the Fertile Crescent because it used to be very very fertile, but millenniums of intensive farming have it looking as the Middle East does today. That was fairly low concentrations of farmers. Today we have heavy concentrations of industrial polluters in first world countries, getting ready to expand and double into China and India. There has been effects on the planet and it will increase, because nobody wants to give up their lifestyles. Industrial society is like steroids for the planet, pumping up natural climate change. The world is already at an unsustainable point, and the next decades will push this further and harder. The middle class of first world countries will notice the effects later than others, ironically, since they'll be able to pay for food when/if it becomes in short supply.

-Global warming does not, and never did, mean winter is hot. It is about overall world trends.

No people on that island, so good for them, but looking at other places like Tuvalu, where residents are already being relocated, it seems like the canary in the mineshaft for modern society. The rising waters probably won't be a major problem in itself (I don't know, though), but it will have its own effects on weather and currents. Still, it's just a symptom of a larger issue.

The world will survive of course.

[Spyder]

I have not heard alot of global warming used. But i agree on your list. The deforestation would cause less trees which would provide less oxygen. Also there would be tons of animals with no homes. The air in La looks very dark than other places in the world. There has been alot of overhunting. We dont want species to be extinct. Look at the do do birds. Due to there over hunting, today's generation or before or after generations will not know what it looks like. We could live without hunting. Think of it as someone hunting you and then when they have you boiling you, cutting you until your mere energy for them.

First off, I am an avid hunter, and I enjoy it very much. I do not torture animals, they are taken out with one shot. It's called Hunting Ethics.

Second, your post contradicts itself. It says that without the trees, there would be tons of animals without a home. Then you say that tomorrow's generation won't have the wildlife because they are all extinct because of over-hunting. Not trying to be rude or start anything, just you should think about editing your post so it doesn't contradict itself.

[Clone OPatra]

Not trying to be rude or start anything, just you should think about editing your post so it doesn't contradict itself.

Honestly, by saying that you are being rude. Reading his post carefully, you will find that he mentioned one example of an animal that will be extinct from over hunting: the do-do bird.

He did not say that all hunting is bad, and there was no personal attack on hunters, it's just that in his opinion certain species will and have become extinct from over hunting.

It is also a valid opinion to say that some animals may become extinct from a combination of deforestation and over hunting, which he also suggest in his posts.

Please do not "kindly suggest" that someone edit their post. Please assume that every post made by every person was thought out and read over as every post is supposed to be, and read over posts yourself if you disagree with them at first glance.

I can see that the issues discussed in this thread are very touchy, so please everyone make sure you do not seem argumentative in any way. If you blatantly disagree with someone but can't think of much to say further than "no way," just don't post.

[The Green Brick Giant]

Global warming has happened thousands and thousands and thousands of times in the history of this plant, humans at the very most MIGHT be speeding it up.

[MetroiD]

Whoa, well I guess that's one more reason why Mel Gibson and Richard Branson should refrain from buying any more islands in the future... What a dismal investment!

(and by "that" I don't mean a) global warming, b) hunting, c) the Mayan Calendar, d) animal extinction, or any other non-political topic here )

[Peppermint_M]

I am slightly more interested in what would happen if Cumbre Vieja had another volcanic eruption. I am glad I live in a nice hilly area known for its height above sea level...

[Thee Pirate]

Doesn't ice have more water displacement than just water?

It does, but a lot of the ice in the world is located on land as glaciers, like the whole Antarctica and Greenland. But the rising of water levels is just one of several theories about what effects global warming has on the planet. It's not as simple as media describes it and we shouldn't look at just parts of it but the entirety.

Actually that's not true. It has more volume displacement but since roughly one third of it is above the surface when ice is floating, once it melts, water level won't rise.

Proof of concept would be to take a glass of water and drop a few ice cubes in it. Once the ice melts, you'll find water level has stayed the same.

That being said, I believe that global warming as perpetuated by environmentalists is a politically motivated farce. I am not saying that it doesn't happen, just that it's causes and effects are overexaggerated to tug at the heart strings of people, and gain fame and fortune in the greater population. Examples of this would be The Day After Tomorrow, Al Gore, the growing ethanol movement, biofuels, electric cars, and so on. Electric cars, there's an effing joke, but that's another story.

Every few thousand years, or tens of thousands of years or whatever, the earth goes through completely natural freeze and thaw cycles. This planet has had ice ages, heat waves, floods, meteor strikes, and a host of other natural phenomena over the course of its life. Apparently, things have worked out pretty well for planet earth, because evidently there is still life on it.

Don't get me wrong, that's not to say we shouldn't take care of our world, and do our part to keep it clean. I do not endorse rampant polluting, and I think that we should all pick up after ourselves.

[LuxorV]

Actually that's not true. It has more volume displacement but since roughly one third of it is above the surface when ice is floating, once it melts, water level won't rise.

Don't want to start a new wild-goose theory chase, but what you said is true only when the ice is already floating in the water.

When you melt ice caps which are located on lands (like Antartica), the water from ice-melt is added to the total ocenic ballance. So you have an actual sea-level rise.

LuxorV

[Spyder]

It is also a valid opinion to say that some animals may become extinct from a combination of deforestation and over hunting, which he also suggest in his posts.

Deer, one of the widest hunted animals, actually need to be hunted, simply because of over-birthing. Deer are actually flourishing in non-forest areas, and there populations are actually going way over the limit. Now, there are laws in place so that extinction never happens to these animals. There are two ways to control the deer population: hunting, or this. And I ain't gonna stop hunting. Also, please read this article for my point of view.

which he also suggest in his posts.

From now on, please say what you mean, and mean what you say in your posts. (Talking to everyone here, this is just an example.) I don't really like it when people "suggest", as it can be taken so many ways. Like I said, say what you mean.

And as you said, this is a very touchy subject, so let's all keep it civil. I actually really enjoy talking to others about this subject, and hope that other people might talk too. Talk, as in no heated arguments. So let's keep this thread friendly.