Hydraulism In Antarctica
* 2. The opening scene shows the collapse of a massive ice shelf (a floating glacier) in Antarctica. Could this really happen? If so, how might this affect global sea levels?
Happens all the time, always has. Only affects sea level if the rate of ice shelf collapse increases or decreases significantly over a long period of time.
3. Is it realistic to think our climate is in a fragile state? What does burning fossil fuels have to do with global warming ice caps?
Oil and gas are hydrocarbons. When they "burn" they are simply reacting with oxygen to form new molecules (CO2, H2O, and various other byproducts). CO2 is known to trap incoming sunlight in the longer-wavelength form of heat, so more CO2 in the atmosphere leads to more heat. …show more content…
At the meeting in India, Jack mentions how the climate is fragile but the vice- oersident states the economy is even more fragile? Talk about the difference between a fragile economy and a fragile climate. Should the vice-president have dismissed Jack’s claims because of the coststo fix the problems with global warming?
Huge debate. That could be an entire forum here. I would argue that the long-term cost of doing nothing about global warming is far more expensive than doing something about it. At the very least, we need to stop building cities at sea level. Rebuilding New Orleans was one of the dumbest things done in the last century.
5. What is happening in New York with the animals in the city? Why are all the birds in the city leaving? Why are the animals in the zoo going crazy? Is this a sign? Do animals have a sixth sense which can predict natural …show more content…
It would be caused by the north Atlantic being flooded with relatively light-weight fresh water from melting ice and snow, thus stopping the thermohaline circulation of the world's oceans. This has happened repeatedly in history, most recently at the beginning of the Little Ice Age.
- Can one storm really create an ice age?
No.
8. The movie depicts a massive freeze sweeping across Europe and the northern United States, resulting in a mass migration to Mexico for survival. Is this how global warming is likely to develop?
No. Global warming will develop in ways that are very difficult to predict. Most likely migrations will be from poor to rich countries, from dry to wet areas, and from coastal to inland areas. None of this will happen in dramatic fashion except during hurricanes, droughts, and other typical natural disasters.
9. Explain what happens in the “eye of the storm.” Why can you survive the eye of the storm if you are inside and have shelter but instantaneously freeze if you are outside?
That's beyond my understanding of meteorology but I suspect it was greatly exaggerated in the movie, as everything else was ridiculous.
10. Explain the following comment from the astronaut after the storm cleared: “Have you ever seen the air so clear?” What is the significance of this
Happens all the time, always has. Only affects sea level if the rate of ice shelf collapse increases or decreases significantly over a long period of time.
3. Is it realistic to think our climate is in a fragile state? What does burning fossil fuels have to do with global warming ice caps?
Oil and gas are hydrocarbons. When they "burn" they are simply reacting with oxygen to form new molecules (CO2, H2O, and various other byproducts). CO2 is known to trap incoming sunlight in the longer-wavelength form of heat, so more CO2 in the atmosphere leads to more heat. …show more content…
At the meeting in India, Jack mentions how the climate is fragile but the vice- oersident states the economy is even more fragile? Talk about the difference between a fragile economy and a fragile climate. Should the vice-president have dismissed Jack’s claims because of the coststo fix the problems with global warming?
Huge debate. That could be an entire forum here. I would argue that the long-term cost of doing nothing about global warming is far more expensive than doing something about it. At the very least, we need to stop building cities at sea level. Rebuilding New Orleans was one of the dumbest things done in the last century.
5. What is happening in New York with the animals in the city? Why are all the birds in the city leaving? Why are the animals in the zoo going crazy? Is this a sign? Do animals have a sixth sense which can predict natural …show more content…
It would be caused by the north Atlantic being flooded with relatively light-weight fresh water from melting ice and snow, thus stopping the thermohaline circulation of the world's oceans. This has happened repeatedly in history, most recently at the beginning of the Little Ice Age.
- Can one storm really create an ice age?
No.
8. The movie depicts a massive freeze sweeping across Europe and the northern United States, resulting in a mass migration to Mexico for survival. Is this how global warming is likely to develop?
No. Global warming will develop in ways that are very difficult to predict. Most likely migrations will be from poor to rich countries, from dry to wet areas, and from coastal to inland areas. None of this will happen in dramatic fashion except during hurricanes, droughts, and other typical natural disasters.
9. Explain what happens in the “eye of the storm.” Why can you survive the eye of the storm if you are inside and have shelter but instantaneously freeze if you are outside?
That's beyond my understanding of meteorology but I suspect it was greatly exaggerated in the movie, as everything else was ridiculous.
10. Explain the following comment from the astronaut after the storm cleared: “Have you ever seen the air so clear?” What is the significance of this