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climateEngulfing the Irish CoastBy Shane QuinnNorth America haswitnessed a 25 per centincrease in hurricanesand tropical stormsin the past five years.Environmental expertsbelieve global warmingis culpable and fearthat Northern Europecould experience suchweather soon.Towns and cities around Irish coasts couldbe in great danger as ocean levels continueto rise due to global warming. DrJohn Sweeney, of National University of IrelandMaynooth (NUIM) says, “there is a stark possibilitythat in the foreseeable future rising sea levelscould engulf vulnerable coastal towns or citieswhich have grown further seaward on reclaimedland.” Irish temperatures have climbed an average1.2 Celsius since 1980 and that figure is rising.“There is a desperate need to improve coastaldefences, particularly in relation to storm surges,”he says.That is not the only crisis we face. North Americahas witnessed a 25 per cent increase in hurricanesand tropical storms in the past five years. Environmentalexperts believe global warming is culpableand fear that Northern Europe could experiencesuch weather soon. “Hurricanes and tropicalstorms require sea temperatures of 26 Celsius todevelop,” says Dr Sweeney. While he confessed itwould be unlikely that Irish waters will experiencesuch a temperature rise early this century, “it isquite possible it will reach that height in the latterpart and early into next century”. The idea of Irelandwitnessing hurricanes could become a frighteningreality.Research scientist, Dr Laura McElwain, alsoof NUIM takes an even more drastic view on theeffect climate change will have on Ireland.Dr McElwain says that: “Ireland is warming uptwice as fast as the rest of the world.”She believes, “climate change has the potentialto change the face of Ireland and to transform itsenvironment. Changes in temperature, rainfalland storm patterns can subtly yet irrevocably alterthe Irish way of life.”She warns us to expect “wetter, milder winters,and drier, hotter summers”. Thiscould cause serious flooding andwater pollution.She says, “the rate of globalwarming is rapidly accelerating”and confirmed that “people andnot nature are responsible”.The effects of global warmingare already apparent in Ireland.In the midlands, where it is coldest,frost occurrences have halvedin the last twenty years. Frostcould even disappear altogetheras average temperatures continueto climb. Winter rain will increase and intensifywhile summers will become hotter and drier.Dr Sweeney, offering a different opinion, says:“The natural trend is actually for global cooling.But, the opposite is occurring, and there is onlyone explanation - we are to blame.” That destroysa theory that the “flat-earthists” have been flaunting- that global warming is occurring naturally.He believes that by 2050 winter temperatureswill have “ risen an average of another 1.5 Celsius”here. Some may not see that as a bad thing but oneweather pattern tends to replace another.He says that by mid-century we can expect tosee rainfall increases in Ireland “of over 11 percent”.“This rise could prove disastrous to Irish agriculture”.Crops could become “waterlogged” withnew pests and diseases evolving as a result.In addition, Ireland’s towns would be under riskof serious flooding. Summer temperatures willhave climbed by 2.5 Celsius with rainfall declininggreatly and droughts possibly lasting weeks.One of the biggest controversies regarding globalwarming to date is the alleged damage developedcountries have inflicted on third-world nations.It is an allegation that first world countries seemreluctant to rectify. Dr Sweeney says that developingcountries must bear a huge burden whentackling climate change. “The developed countriescaused the initial damage here, and the thirdworldstates just haven’t got the resources totackle the problem.”Another catastrophe threatens to destroy boththe North (Arctic) and South Poles (Antarctica).Huge amounts of ice are melting annually andlocal wildlife could soon die out. “In the North Poleit is probable that by mid-century more than halfthe summer ice will have disappeared,” says DrSweeney. He said that the situation in the SouthPole was “less clear” but he wouldn’t hold out“much hope”. He also believes that polar bears andpenguins face “certain extinction” as their habitatsmelt away.Arctic shrinkage has caused a huge increasein polar bear cub death rates. The National Geographicnews states that in the past 50 yearsemperor penguin populations have fallen by 50per cent. It says the main reason for this is thesharp decline in fish - its primary diet, due to climatechange. Only until the human race removesits bad habits and treats the planet differently, canwe then enjoy a brighter future.44 Fusion Magazine