• Question: We have heard several estimates on when the world will lose it's first country to global warming. Which is accurate, and which country would go first?

    Asked by raushan to Amy, Drew, Julia, Kimberley, Sara on 15 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Amy MacQueen

      Amy MacQueen answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      Hi Raushan!

      Sorry about this morning, I must confess that I know very little in a professional capacity about the facts and figures of global warming so I’m not sure that I can really comment on which of these estimates is accurate. I mean as you said they are all “estimates” so by definition none of them really are accurate! Maybe one of the other scientists knows more about this?

    • Photo: Drew Rae

      Drew Rae answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      Hi again Raushan. The exact effects of global warming depend on computer models, and we don’t have a spare earth to test the models with. We know for sure that the only models we can get to fit are the ones that have global warming, and that have some sea rise, but the exact timing and amount is harder.

      I’m sorry to tell you this, but the sovereign country with the lowest highest point is the Maldives, at 2m above sea level. If the oceans rise 2m, the Maldives will be completely covered. I don’t know the range of estimates for when this will happen, but from memory 2m is at the extreme end for the 50 year predictions, and about average for the 100 year predictions.

    • Photo: Kimberley Bryon

      Kimberley Bryon answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      I really don’t know much about global warming or the statistics concerning polar ice caps melting and flooding. The Earth has been going through cycles of heating and cooling its entire existence so I am not that concerned that we are going to loose any cities any time soon!

    • Photo: Sara Imari Walker

      Sara Imari Walker answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      Hi again Raushan! Sadly I have heard the same thing as what Drew has reported here. The country most at risk due to a global rise in oceans from global warming is the Maldives in as early as 50 years. It is really scary and sad – the Maldives seem like such a beautiful country.

      However, there is some hope – I don’t think we know enough about global weather processes to know for sure what the affects of global warming will be or how long it will take for some of these predictions to pan out. I like to keep the hope alive!

    • Photo: Julia Griffen

      Julia Griffen answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      Guess its all to do with sea level.. any land that is around sea level will be affacted most by rise in sea levels… cant hit you with any countrys off the top of my head but i guess islands and flat moors and grasslands…

      I think when is only a matter of time… the sea only needs to rise a few milimeters to have asevere impact. It’ll cause rivers to rise, flood marshes and arabal areas, sea side towns and villages… pretty catastrophic!

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