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 What causes sea levels to rise? The main cause of sea levels rising is ice caps melting which is caused by the sun hitting the sea around the ice cap, causing the water to become warm, which melts the ice caps. An interesting fact is that when the sun hits the ice caps, it reflects back into space, so the ice cap doesn't melt from being hit directly by the sun! Another reason why sea levels rise is because sea water expands from being the sun's warmth. Sea levels also change when the Earth's plates move, which alters the shape of the sea bottom, changing the level of the sea.

How much higher are sea levels now than 100 years ago? Sea levels are about 10-20cm higher now than they were 100 years ago.

 Are there any trends of sea level changes throughout history?  There has been sea level changes throughout history. For millions of years, sea levels have been rising and falling continuously and so has ice amounts in the sea. Even so, sea levels now are much higher than high sea levels before in history. About 18,000 years ago, temperatures on the Earth became extremely cold, causing the water in the North and South poles to freeze, creating Antarctica and the Arctic. This was the Ice Age. Sea levels around this time dropped by about 140 metres! This is why some scientists think that the current high sea levels caused by global warming might just be a fad, and we might soon go back to another Ice Age.

What would sea levels be like in 20 years? Sea levels are likely to have rise about as much as 6 metres (!) within the next 20 years. Mombasa, a beautiful island paradise in Kenya, home to 800,000 people and only 45 metres above sea level, could be almost covered in sea water that is unfit to drink and which will destroy the crop lands. Right now, even a 0.3 metre sea level rise will cover 17% of the whole island! Cities such as Dhaka, Cotonou, Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, and Durban also face being partially submerged. Cities that will be the most vulnerable will be the ones with low altitudes, and high temperature and humidity.

Click this sentence to see some pictures of possible scenarios    

Are people doing anything to stop or reduce sea levels rising? And if so, what? Some people ARE trying to stop sea levels rising. (We salute you!) They are the same people that are striving to stop global warming. Why, you ask? Global warming is the reason sea levels are rising (it IS true, not like all the other things people blame global warming for, such as their cooking burning). We can reduce global warming by changing a few little things in our life, such as changing our normal light bulbs to energy saving light bulbs, not leaving appliances on standby mode, or even just covering your pots when your cooking! All these things can reduce your CO2 emissions AND your energy bill! media type="custom" key="4313619" align="center"

Are animals affected by sea levels rising? If so, can we do anything to help them? <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;"> Animals would lose their habitats, mating spots, and food sources. An example of this are the Hawaiian monk seals. A computer generated animation shows that by the end of the century, Hawaii will lose up to 65% of their land. A lot of this area are important nestling, nursery, and mating spots for the monk seals. Due to this, the monk seals have been declining in numbers. Another example of this are the polar bears. Decreasing ice, having to swim long distances to find land, drowning, I can't bear to go on. We can save the poor animals by reducing global warming, thus reducing sea levels rising and ice caps melting. Come on, who wouldn't want to help cute polar bears? Click here to see more cute polar bear pictures

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">If sea levels continue to rise at its highest rate, will the continents be flooded? If so, when? <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">The continents CAN be flooded, but not necessarily because of sea levels rising. Scientists have proven that the massive flood from the Old Testament did happen. Studies have shown that a global flood happened around 10,000 BC - 100 BC. The continents were flooded and some even sank down to the bottom of the sea, lost forever. This happened because the North and South poles disappeared and reappeared in reverse. This caused massive trouble; the Earth's crust moved over the liquid core, continents were thrown about like clothes in a washing machine, giant volcanoes erupted, mega tsunamis drowned the land, and massive storms flattened everything on them! What's worse, our brains will be turned into jelly! I'm serious! Some scientists say that your brain needs electromagnetic currents to function. When the North and South poles disappeared, all living beings' brains were wiped clean! Nasty! This could all happen in 2012, when some scientists say that the North and South poles might switch again. Don't worry, other scientists thinks this wont happen for another few thousand years. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">2012?

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">Design a device that would stop or reduce sea levels rising. <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">We have designed a machine that sucks up water and turns it into steam, ice, and fresh water. It also makes sea salt. When it is turning the sea water into steam, it takes the leftover sea salt and compresses and cuts it. After it has finished turning the water into ice, it deposits it in Antarctica and the Arctic, so polar bears and penguins can have their homes back. Also, the steam emitted from it can travel to desert countries and give them rain. It doesn't suck up sea life because it has a filter at the beginning of the sucking tube. Also, it does not suck water in very hard or quick, so fish can easily swim out. Another function is that is cleanses the water so that it is suitable for drinking. There will be a sort of reservoir on the side of the machine that collects clean water that the machine emits. There will be machines stationed at the North and South pole and desert countries. It is powered by moving water.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">How effective are the things people are doing to stop sea levels rising? <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">The things individuals are doing to help stop sea levels rising are pretty good. Most people do environmentally friendly things like taking showers, air drying their clothes, and recycling most of their stuff. Even so, our online survey shows that most people think the world is doing badly in reducing sea levels rising and global warming.

Here's a link to our survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Lrvg_2ff7w5xpwERxobiWHvQ_3d_3d

The survey is still open and you are welcome to take it.

Click here to see some pictures of the results

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 96%; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">Bibliography