Sunday’s New York Times published an article that might indicate a sea change in journalistic coverage of climate change. The tone of the article, “As Glaciers Melt, Science Seeks Data on Rising Seas”, in contrast to way to much in the mass media, is not “whether”, but “when”.
Quote:
“As a result of recent calculations that take the changes into account, many scientists now say that sea level is likely to rise perhaps three feet by 2100 — an increase that, should it come to pass, would pose a threat to coastal regions the world over.
And the calculations suggest that the rise could conceivably exceed six feet, which would put thousands of square miles of the American coastline under water and would probably displace tens of millions of people in Asia.”
—
Climate scientists readily admit that the three-foot estimate could be wrong. Their understanding of the changes going on in the world’s land ice is still primitive. But, they say, it could just as easily be an underestimate as an overestimate. One of the deans of American coastal studies, Orrin H. Pilkey of Duke University, is advising coastal communities to plan for a rise of at least five feet by 2100.”
The video above debunks some of the most common denier myths about sea level. Joe Romm has more over at climateprogress.
So, why “almost” gets real?
still contains the obligatory, false balance nod toward the “skeptics”, like John Christy.