A massive rise in sea level is coming, and it will trigger climate chaos around the world. That was the message from a controversial recent paper by climate scientist James Hansen. It was slated by many for assuming – rather than showing – that sea level could rise by between 1 and 5 metres by 2100.  But shortly after being formally published, it was backed up by another study concerning massive fresh water discharge to the ocean that includes factors that previous studies omitted. First, floating ice shelves around Antarctica will soon be exposed to above-zero summer air temperatures, speeding their melt, he says. Second, once the shelves are gone, the huge ice cliffs that remain will begin to collapse (Nature, DOI: 10.1038/nature17145).

The findings suggest that even if countries meet the pledges made as part of the Paris agreement, global sea level could still rise 1 metre by 2100. If emissions keep climbing it could go up more than 2 metres.  Today we’re measuring global sea level rise in millimetres per year, but there is the potential for centimetres per year just from Antarctica. (New Scientist).

We now have a climate change denier, Scott Pruitt, who, if confirmed will become head of the EPA , and a President who can’t make up his mind – also a denier until his children took him aside.

When I was last in the Florida Keys the unusual proximity of the moon had helped the tide wash away tons of sand and the water was close to lapping over the wooden jetty off the beach. This was only a periodic effect, but scary.  A metre rise in sea levels will put much of Southern Florida under water. Apparently, Pruitt thinks that two centuries- worth of burning fossil fuels has had no effect and that the CO2  magically migrates to the moon.  He probably also believes in fairies.