Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: DoctorBeaver on 27/02/2006 12:40:08
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Right, so the glaciers & ice-caps are melting; which will raise sea-level. But, surely, any increase in global temperature will cause more of that water to evaporate. Does that mean that rainfall will increase or will the water vapour remain in the atmosphere as clouds?
I'm sure I remember reading once that it would indeed result in an overall increase in the extent & density of clouds. Does that mean that the actual increase in sea-level will be less than one might expect? If so, is there any way of calculating the extent of the reduction?
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It really matters Where it rains, like over the oceans it is just going to create a no loss cycle of water, though surely the rising waters are but one symptom in a much greater picture, like "desertification" and seasonal changes.
Also living in conditions of say low atmospherics like high humidity and temperatures.
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if there is an increase in atmospheric moisture,could this benefit areas that are currently in "rain shadow"due to mountains ect,or could all that moisture cause cooling ?
its the drugs,y-know.
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it would cause powerful weather systems
Michael
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would or could these powerfull systems push enough moisture over some mountain ranges that have been dry for milennia,im thinking of places like the atacama where it hasnt rained for centuries,will it spark a flush of dormant ,as yet,unknown plants,should i purchase land there ? [}:)]
its the drugs,y-know.
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quote:
Originally posted by AlphBravo
It really matters Where it rains, like over the oceans it is just going to create a no loss cycle of water, though surely the rising waters are but one symptom in a much greater picture, like "desertification" and seasonal changes.
Also living in conditions of say low atmospherics like high humidity and temperatures.
quote:
Originally posted by Ray Hinton
if there is an increase in atmospheric moisture,could this benefit areas that are currently in "rain shadow"due to mountains ect,or could all that moisture cause cooling ?
quote:
Originally posted by Ray Hinton
would or could these powerfull systems push enough moisture over some mountain ranges that have been dry for milennia,im thinking of places like the atacama where it hasnt rained for centuries...
These are the sort of things I was wondering. If it rains in places where there's been no rain for a long while, I dare say a lot of new lakes would be formed or the ground would absorb a lot. All I've heard is people saying that if the ice-caps melt, x billion gallons of water would be released which would increase sea-level by whatever amount. But would it? It doesn't seem feasible to me that all the melted ice would end up as sea water.
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Most of the extra moisture will turn to rain which will very quickly find its way back into the sea. also there are also giant glaciers on mountains like everest which are melting, And the ones near everest i believe are at present holding back massive lakes of underground water
Michael
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quote:
Originally posted by ukmicky
Most of the extra moisture will turn to rain which will very quickly find its way back into the sea.
Michael
But would it? What about areas such as Death Valley or Salt Lake? If it started raining in those areas, wouldn't they fill up 1st? Lake Baikal is another example. There's been a 60% reduction in the volume of water there over the past 20 years or so - and that is 1 huge lake! Depleted reservoirs would fill again. OK, each 1 wouldn't make a great difference by itself... but added together? Or what about depleted aquafers?
I'm convinced a lot of the excess water would be taken up in those ways.
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the biggest problem is cranial saturation,you end up with hair that wont dry !!!!!!.
its the drugs,y-know.
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tsk
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sorry doc,ive been hanging around neil and mickey since i got here,its not an excuse,but an explanation.
Ray [:D][:D]
its the drugs,y-know.
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tsk again. Neil & Mickey are my apprentices!