Rising Tides

One of the most obvious, most ominous results of global warming is the rising sea level emerging throughout the world. As glaciers and ice caps melt and temperatures rise, the effects are becoming more evident.

Rapid population growth along the coastlines of many countries is coming at the worst possible time and placing more people at risk than any at time in the past. Over half of United States residents live along our coastlines and massive ocean flooding is now becoming commonplace in low lying areas of countries such as Egypt, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

As customary water levels rise and floods become more commonplace, the consequences become greater on a number of levels. Property damage, displaced residents and higher insurance rates are some of the obvious outcomes, but coastal erosion is an even more significant and potentially permanent problem. Many scientists believe that coastlines are likely to lose an average of 1,000 feet of shoreline in many parts of the US by the end of this century, as a result of rising tides, increased flooding and steady beach erosion -- all attributable to global warming.

What can we do to “reverse the tide?” The Environmental Defense Fund has some suggestions for steps individuals can take to be a part of the solution.

Visit http://fightglobalwarming.com to find out more.