just to give some kind of idea of the size, that's an area just smaller than the size of the UK (UK being 94,000 square miles). Blimey.
Heard that this morning - it's incredible. It's like a Hollywood movie, and no doubt at some point it will be. It's impossible to comprehend how your life can be turned upside down like that. Heard from my friend in California last night, her parents live in the New Orleans area, I think about a couple of hours drive away, she'd spoken to her mum on Sunday and they were planning on sitting it out unless a neighbour could help them, she's not heard from them since, she is distraught, similar stories all across the US.
Very Tragic - but hopefully will bring Kyoto & global warming right to the top of dubya's priority list, but then again i doubt it.
Well hurricaines are caused by high ocean surface temperatures Flooding is caused by rising water levels and increased frequency and severity of freak weather events are predicted by future climate models are a result of global warming. So actually, yes, it was probably human induced.
I dont think there is any doubt that humankind is causing environmental problems, the question is how much of what we are doing is responsible for what is happening? Hurricane experts say in a natural cycle for these kind of major events which might be quite true. What is also true is that scientists believe that we are contributing to the heating up of sea temperatures which are adding to the ferocity of the Hurricanes. Taking the pragmatic view you might say that whilst naturally the earth may be heating up, we shouldnt be making the situation any worse than it already is, which undoubtably we are. Sadly I believe these events will be far more common place in the next 50 years. Scary thing is that the hurricane season isnt over yet.
Do a little bit of reading - educate yourself about preditcaed scenarios and what needs to be done to try and slow things down
Modelling carried out at the MET Office's Hadley Centre Shows that without the greenhouse gases produced by industry, transport and power generation, but still using all other known factors we should be experiencing a period of gradual cooling. Essentially, it's been proven that the heating is a result of us, though you're not alone in thinking there's some doubt, however, the only scientists who'll agree with you are paid by oil companies.
i couldn't agree more. bush couldn't give a toss about the maldives going under water in the next 20 or so years. and by the way he spoke on telly and his actions yesterday he couldn't give a toss about new orleans. will he change his stance on global warming ??.......doubtful
But signing up to Kyoto would not have prevented this, may prevent ones 10-20 years hence, but not this one.
I was looking at this website at the weekend tracking the hurrricane http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ They'd already said that it would be a higher than normal hurrican season and that it was only just starting. Remember last year with the hurricanes hitting Florida, they had another about a week after one had it. Hope to god that the same doesn't happen here and they get hit again within weeks.
RE: Well hurricaines are caused by high ocean surface temperatures you wouldn't pitch a tent in a puddle would you ?
