One of the tricks in the global warming alarmist playbook over the years has been to show how global warming will cause sea levels to rise and flood the low-lying coastal areas where population centers happen to be, specifically lower Manhattan in New York City.
However, the imagery used by Al Gore in his "An Inconvenient Truth" and by various other global warming made-for-television specials isn't scientifically accurate according to Bjørn Lomborg, author of "Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist's Guide to Global Warming."
Lomborg was asked by Gene Epstein in the May 18 issue of Barron's if it would be "smart to prevent global warming as soon as possible -- to avoid seeing Manhattan under 20 feet of water in ten years?"
"That makes for vivid imagery, but it isn't what the science is telling us," Lomborg said. "According to the thousands of scientists the U.N. asked to evaluate the data, the sea-level rise between now and 2100 will be somewhere between six inches and two feet -- not 20 feet -- with most estimates around one foot."
But even if this doomsday scenario were true, Lomborg contended it's too late for a preventive measure as such as a carbon tax or cap-and-trade legislation to take effect. And anyway, people would build the necessary infrastructure to keep sea-level rise from interfering with day-to-day life.
"And if it really were true that Manhattan will be 20 feet underwater in 10 years, there would be no time to reverse global warming anyway," Lomborg said. "Once Manhattanites witness the first three feet of sea-level rise in three years, the only sane thing would be to build dikes. And let's remember that you don't have to see the dikes. The Dutch don't normally see their dikes or feel surrounded by them. Not that many of the scientists who have looked at the data expect that kind of catastrophe."
The tactic of suggested Manhattan would be underwater due to the effects of global warming has been one used on repeated occasions in the media. Aside from former Vice President Al Gore using it, CBS's "The Early Show" host Harry Smith has used it and more recently, NBC's Lester Holt used such imagery in his MSNBC special, "Future Earth: Journey to the End of the World."
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Comments Policy
→ Gore lied?
May 18, 2009 - 18:27 ET by Cool ArrowI'll be in therapy if you need me.
This is crushing news.
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
It's okay Cool...
May 18, 2009 - 18:41 ET by HeavyChevyI felt the same way about the Easter Bunny,Santa Clause, and the Great Pumpkin but alas my friend we all must soldier on.
→ Easter Bunny?
May 18, 2009 - 18:45 ET by Cool ArrowI knew that harem of hens just couldn't be true.
Then along came Col. Sanders.
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
HC
May 18, 2009 - 21:12 ET by well99What do you mean there is no Great Pumpkin!Well see who gets presents this year!As far as Al Gore.Isnt it amazing how he had about a million or two after the WH and now he is worth over 100 million.Global Warming pays off for some.
It will be Man that destroys himself..
May 18, 2009 - 18:37 ET by upcountrywaterhere's Irans favorite
In an article titled, "Electronics to Determine Fate of Future Wars,"
the journal explains how an EMP attack on America's electronic
infrastructure, caused by the detonation of a nuclear weapon high above
the U.S., would bring the country to its knees.
iran likes the knees part..
Will we do ANYTHING to, stop this from happening,NOPE, ZIPPO...Just keep dreaming, and twisting in the wind about clouds and climate...
Future Historians will have a field day with our STUPIDITY!! gawd.
Reagan VS 0bama
Don't be scared of an EMP
May 18, 2009 - 18:49 ET by richb313Too much misinformation about the damage caused by a Nuclear induced EMP are out there. Yes, a nuclear detonation releases a massive EMP. It only travels line of sight. If detonated high enough to affect all the continental US it is too high to do much damage due to spherical spreading loss. It would take several nuclear detonations at high altitude at several points going off at the same time to have the desired effect. Only Russia and China(Potential Advisaries) have the technical ability to pull this off at present. We are in much greater danger of a massive solar flare intercepting the earth and causing massive wide spread damge. The energies released from the sun, even after travelling 93 million miles, dwarfes all our nuclear capability. It seems to me that too many people want to be scared of something or someone. I am of the opinion that it does no good to be scared or succumb to those fears. I prefer to deal with what is in front of me rather than be afraid of the boogy man in the closet.
Yea, Nuclear bombs are real, 20' sea level rise is FICTION
May 18, 2009 - 19:09 ET by upcountrywaterOk modern electronic circuits are shielded, better than wiring of old. However no fusing on secondary circuits on any transformers.
Ever heard if this:
At this time, the United States was
conducting a series of high-altitude atmospheric tests, code named "Fishbowl."
The nuclear explosion, "Starfish Prime," which was detonated in the Pacific
Ocean 800 miles from Hawaii, caused an EMP that disrupted radio stations and
electrical equipment throughout Hawaii.
The Sun is VERY quiet at the moment.
Are you aware that there is a push for ONE ELECTRICAL grid in the entire US. If that breaks, No juice for all of us.
How about a nuk in a few harbors. Voila no gasoline.
Our civilazation is so very frigile, so easly broken.
And here we are worring about what a Gaia god may do to us..
Reagan VS 0bama
You still don't get it
May 18, 2009 - 21:58 ET by richb313EMP's are real but not the end of civilization boogy man that the latest survialist types are promoting. The military conducted those tests specifically to determine the energies released and the effects. What altitude was the detonation conducted at? What was the yeild of the device? An EMP is a short duration event, only the long wave portion can go over the horizon and is not as big a factor as the medium and short wave features. People love to hype what they do not understand. Modern microcirciuts are especially sensitive to high current events but not as sensitive when connected in circuit boards. The reason is simple, a drain to ground is available. Yes there could be massive dissruption and a lot of burned out stuff including a lot of consumer goods that don't have adequate static protection or rudimentary hardening. As far as I know it would take a large Hydrogen type device to release the amounts of energy required to do the damage that most are afraid of. A Hydrogen Bomb is on a order of magnitude more difficult to produce than a simpler Fission type bomb. As I said before Solar Events are much more likely and after a Solar Minimum as long as the one we are in currently the Sun usually wakes up with a vengence.
rich, Hunter gatherer, agrarian ain't my idea of civilization
May 18, 2009 - 23:55 ET by upcountrywaterTho 1/3 of this planets population practices that life style.
I'm glad you think EMP ain't anything to worry about.
I see no links to the next big sun vengence cycle.
No planet X FLYING by in 2012
I see no 20 feet of sea level rise.
We are so interconnected that 2 buildings and 3,000 deaths caused the stock market to fall a thousand points. RIP
I do see some atom bomb going off in a harbor somewhere. It's a 60 year old technology.
That is what we need to prevent.. Not the car carbon tax ,arg.
Reagan VS 0bama
ucw.... Thank you...I didn't
May 18, 2009 - 18:50 ET by bigtimerucw....
Thank you...I didn't know about this...evidently this isn't of much importance to the msm either.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
OK so here's the deal...
May 18, 2009 - 18:38 ET by MidAmericaOK so here's the deal... Global Warming will be oderless, tasteless and invisible. The effects of this catastrophic climate change will be undetectable but but deadly serious none the less. We must act now!
Silent, But Deadly
May 18, 2009 - 18:59 ET by UndercoverConservativejust like the rest of the gas that comes out of AGWsocial engineers...
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
→ SBD
May 18, 2009 - 19:09 ET by Cool ArrowOr, as Perez Hilton would refer to it, "potpourri"
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
nah
May 19, 2009 - 08:10 ET by RowaneNah, he'd consider it "buck scent" lol
Kids are scared
May 18, 2009 - 18:39 ET by richb313The school systems in this country should be prosocuted for child abuse. Too many kids are scared that they will drown because of rising sea levels. I have explained to many kids that even if all that Al Gore said was true that water would not rush in, in fact the water would rise so slowly that you could walk one foot away from the sea shore every day and the water could never ever catch up to you. Many kids are having nightmares about this and also being baked live in the coming AWG oven. This is criminal to scare kids like this.
Seeing Manhattan under water in 10 years??
May 18, 2009 - 18:41 ET by Gary HallJust when is this increase in the rate of rise in sea level? As we can see here:
.. sea level around Manhattan for the past 150 years has been rising at the rate of 0.91 feet every 100 years. And notice - the rate is not increasing any - none - zipola - since the advent of supposed CO2 induced global warming.
Extra - Extra - Extra - In their recent annual hurricane forcast for the US, the experts at Colorado State (Dr's. Klotzbach and Gray) noted that Atlantic sea temperatures this year were the coldest they've seen in decades - so, since much of the rising in sea level is from the expansion of water, when it's warmer, I'd exect that the sea level around Manhattan, will continue to fall, as it has since around 1996. Yep, it's been falling for the past 12 years. Imagine that.
So the big question we are faced with: Ten years from now, will the sea level there be lower than it is today, or will it be 1.1 inch higher, assuming the long term trend continues. 20 feet?
(;~> gary
Gary. Looking at that
May 18, 2009 - 19:03 ET by danboGary. Looking at that chart. For the last 10 years sea level at the Battery have been flat to down. Another inconvenient fact. NASA needs to adjust this some more.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
You Called It
May 18, 2009 - 19:15 ET by dboHere's another chart from the Battery, New York showing the last 30 years only.
dbo
May 18, 2009 - 19:18 ET by Gary HallMy God, what has man wrot upon us?
danbo..
May 18, 2009 - 19:17 ET by Gary Hallyou're going to hate this.. hee hee. Ah yup, I think I said that.
By the way if you click on the link - you can bounce around and look at the records all over the place. From all the ones I looked at, the record seems to indicate that what ever the sea level rise trend has been, at these various locations, it's a straight line for the past 100 to 150 years. Naturally, the thousands of journalists, researchers, writers, and editors in the national media, would have little interest in considering such strong evidence which shows that they are preaching a lie to the public. (;~> gary
I don't hate it. Reality
May 18, 2009 - 20:29 ET by danboI don't hate it. Reality is.It's been rising since the end of the plistocene. Off and on.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
b*tchslapped by Common Sense
May 18, 2009 - 18:50 ET by UndercoverConservativebut it's obvious the whole Wacko Enviro scam is more about economic warfare to cripple America and allow dominance over 'commoners' than it ever was about "saving" the planet. It's been nothing more than increasingly blatant "Do as I say not as I do" since the early 90's.
When these "carbon" or enviro causes are enforced as strongly on the Chinese, Indians, Russians, and every other nation, we'll know it's not economic warfare. And when it's applied to Government, rulers, the elite and rich and famous, we'll know it's not class warfare. Until then, it's both, and increasingly heinous for the lies told and the lives damaged to support it.
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
No worries
May 18, 2009 - 19:06 ET by Dan DiegoAfter Obama, the Gov and Mayor get done with tax hikes and restrictions on what you can eat, drink, drive, say, think, etc, there won't be anyone left in NYC. Maybe The History Channel can do a new series, NYC after people.
I just wished...
May 18, 2009 - 19:11 ET by jdripperThat one of these morons would have read Archimedes. Intriguing that enmvironmentalists are so stupid as to attempt to defy basic laws of science that have been around for 3,000 years.
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
No scientists need apply
May 18, 2009 - 19:21 ET by acumen"The tactic of suggested Manhattan would be underwater due to the effects of global warming has been one used on repeated occasions in the media."
Sensationalism over science is a job requirement for climate reporters in the establishment media according to CBS at least. This is an actual ad for an environmental reporter at CBS posted in 2007 --
Seeking Vibrant Reporter/Host for Eco Beat
Freelance
Negotiable salary
Ad expires December 12, 2007
CBS is expanding its coverage of the environment. We seek a talented reporter/host for Internet video broadcast. We are looking for smart, creative, hard working up and comers, who can bring great energy, creativity and a dash of humor to our coverage. A deep interest in the environment and sustainability issues will serve you well.
You are wicked smart, funny, irreverent and hip, oozing enthusiasm and creative energy. This position requires strong people, reporting, story telling and writing skills. Managing tight deadlines should be second nature. Knowledge of the enviro beat is a big plus, but not a requirement.
Responsibilities include reporting and hosting two to three news packages per week plus daily writing for our blog. You should be comfortable using a video camera and the Internet. Be prepared to see America. Heavy domestic travel.
Send resumes, cover letters and links to katzn@cbsnews.com or send DVD reels to:
Neil Katz CBS News
518 W57th Street
NY, NY 10019
# #
Now, can we revers all the
May 18, 2009 - 19:40 ET by mattmNow, can we revers all the "green" nonsense that has been shoved down our throats fro the last 20 or so years?
We should petition the Nobel committee to force Algore to give back his ill-begotten peace prize.
→ No mattm
May 18, 2009 - 19:42 ET by Cool ArrowIn fact, Obama is going to unveil his new CAFE standards tomorrow.
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
Cool... Along with
May 18, 2009 - 20:23 ET by bigtimerCool...
Along with Jennifer Granholm I heard and whoever else in his back-drop scene...plus....she is most likely going to be our newest Supreme Court Judge.
Well, that's going thru the grapevine too....and I don't doubt it one second, I'm betting it is her he nominates, well, unless Soros and the Chicago game says different.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
→ Shocking bt
May 18, 2009 - 20:26 ET by Cool ArrowAnd here I thought abortion was a philosophical debate. Something we should continue to debate without any stinking political litmus test.
"I was fighting a war in Iraq!" - Nancy Lugosi
woops
May 18, 2009 - 19:46 ET by mattmwoops - it was supposed to be reversE and "for" not "fro"....but I tried to edit, but it wouldn't let me....
An NB blog on AWG I
May 18, 2009 - 20:17 ET by lotrAn NB blog on AWG I actually agree on. I pretty much concur with Lomborg's assessment.
"Let's wrap him up, alright?" -- Keith Olbermann
Snotty Gore
May 18, 2009 - 20:30 ET by BuzzguyWhen Al Gore gave his snotty non-response recently in a congrssional hearing, he mentioned that he had been warning people about this for 30 years. 30 years is nearly a third of a century. Can he demonstrate what has happened in the last 30 years that will add up to a catastrophe in the remaining two thirds of the "Goracle's Warning" century.
Oops, I forgot. He doesn't take questions.
Off topic–in the recent airing of the 2006 "The History of Heavy Metal" documentary, I noticed the filmakers bent over backward to keep Tipper Gore out of the discussion. They were unsuccessful.
The Republicans have an issue.
May 18, 2009 - 21:52 ET by pbthinkerIn 2010, when the Republicans retake Congress, I think that one of the first things they should do is have a truth commission. Not about the CIA memos, we know that story, no about Global Warming. I would love to see them call in Al Gore and actually hold him responsible for all the false stories he's been putting out. Has anyone taken a look at what Gore's lies have already cost us and what they're going to cost in the future (if Henry Waxman is correct and the Dems are going to get their climate bill in this year)? This fallacy, if Obama really wants to look at it, is going to cost him Health Care and any other liberal trivia he wants to enact. It's going to mushroom to the point where we are all taxed to the limit. Oh well, it will be a great campaign issue and could well cost the Democrats everything.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.
not gonna happen...
May 19, 2009 - 14:33 ET by wizardjrA. The GOP is still full of 'moderates' [ read: RINO aka coward]
B. There is a critical mass of pocket picking "citizens" in America that will join the True Believers in reelecting Barry and the Barons of the Beltway.
Too bad, I really liked America. Welcome to the USSA. Don't forget Barry's brown shirts. He's winding up 250,000 of them over the next couple of years and all overseen by ACORN. What could possibly go wrong?
X
May 18, 2009 - 22:08 ET by serfer62The benefits of a rising sea level is the loss of san francisco, new york...I mean would I really care?
The sky is falling! The earth is really RISING!
May 18, 2009 - 22:22 ET by obageegeehttp://www.gi.alaska...
Ha, never studied...
It'd be the first time in
May 18, 2009 - 23:32 ET by RR GOPIt'd be the first time in about 200 years that New York City would be clean and (relatively) crime free. Travis Bickle would be happy.
All these Hollywood types, artistes, elitists, etc. go on and on and on about how great Manhattan/New York City is. Been there...don't get it.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
We couldn't build dikes here
May 19, 2009 - 06:10 ET by eaglewingz08We couldn't build dikes here to save the cities it would be decried as homophobic no doubt (sorry poor pun). But the real outcry would come from the environazis who are populated in the very cities supposedly under attack. They would find some snail darter endangered by the dikes and drag out the building of the dikes until the City was flooded by all ten or twenty feet of water. And I can't see this global baloney concern about deaths of tens of millions of people from the environazis. THEY WANT BILLIONS of people to die because they believe the world is OVER populated. So why the false concern about a few millions of people dying in various cities. Their deaths are but a small sacrifice to slow AGW and to heal the planet and would be for the greater good. Once small step for man (into the grave) one giant leap for mankind.
NYC under 20 feet of water...
May 19, 2009 - 09:14 ET by bradbenj5952NYC under 20 feet of water...and that's bad, how? But seriously, these jokers can't tell what the weather will be next week and they presume to tell us they know what it will be like 20 to 100 years from now! It is unbelievable that so many people actually fall for this ridiculous nonsense. This is how I know that America is in real trouble.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
It is not a scenario it's movie
May 19, 2009 - 10:40 ET by Chattychitothe whole solar system is warming. the earth slowly shifted in the water band and is closer to the sun that makes it warmer too. but there ain't no worry about the Bronx going under water it will never happen. as a matter of fact calculate if Manhattan is 20 feet underwater and you would find a whole lot more of the East coast underwater and even into the mid west up the Mississippi and along the great lakes even Chicago would be under water. the whole world would be changed not just Manhattan it is impossible.
They are nuts they are just fear mongering. using faulty data from faulty equipment to cause fear so we can make Gore rich and powerful.
"A man who doesn't borrow from the brains of others proves he has no brains of his own." CH Spurgeon