Instead of Global Warming?

Question

Gee, it doesn't make much sense to me... Doesn't in seem more logical that if Global Warming is happening (by whatever mechanism) that rather than the fate of the Earth destined for submergence in higher sea levels from the melting poles, that instead, the warming will do the reverse and cause the water to suspend itself in cloud cover, like Venus, and the sea levels will drop, not rise, and drought will be everywhere with parched lands and failed crops producing worldwide famine and the collapse of the food chain?

The current worldwide droughts seem to be pointing in this direction. Plus, the Great Lakes of the U.S. are evaporating and their levels are dramatically on the decline, and not rising at all; and Florida's big lake is drying up as well as other lakes around the world. The rising sea level scenario just does not fit.

Answer 1

your scenario will eventually happen, in about 5.5 billion years assuming that we survive the galactic collision with the Andromeda galaxy intact as a solar system. in the mean time however, there are too many fail safes in the earths biosphere to prevent your gloomy scenario. the seas are rising, and have been for about 15,000 years as the globe has warmed since the last ice age.

Answer 2

You're missing one critical point - melting of land ice (such as the Greenland and Antarctic ice shelves).  Plus the expansion of water as it warms.

It's true that more water will evaporate and form clouds, but it's also true that sea levels will rise due to the factors above.

Answer 3

The reason that it does fit is the melting of the ice at the poles.   There is a tremendous amount of water tied up there in snow and ice.

Answer 4

And I was hit with a piece of sky. I now carry an umbrella.

Answer 5

Venus is extremely hot (around 500 C), so that's not a very comforting thought :-)

While some clouds will have an albedo effect and reflect incoming heat back out into space, clouds also trap existing heat in the lower atmosphere (which is why a cloudy winter night tends to be warmer than a clear winter night).  Different types of clouds at different elevations (and time of day) will have different overall effects.

This is a very complex part of the climate picture and one of the areas of uncertainty (which is why scientists offer a range of warming 1.5 - 4 C with a doubling of CO2). You can read more about it here:

http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/aboutus/article...

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/e...

Answer 6

Shouldn't it be a lil' of both (I mean increase in  sea level, and drought) since the temp change is gradual the air will still be colder higher up for quite some time. Stronger storms is what i hear.

Answer 7

2012

Answer 8

Well When The Polar Icecaps Melt

Nothing Is Going To Happen Except

The Animals Natural Habitat Will Be

Ruined And They Will Have To Try To

Adapt To The Land Around Them.

     When The Polar Icecaps Melt The

Water Level Will Stay The Same

Because It Isn't A Chemical Change

So The Weight Of The Ice Is Going To

Be The Exact Same As If It Was Melted.

Hope I Helped

-Kaitlynn Hallie<3