Prior to the current disaster, I was interested in the effects that climate change would have on the earth. The melting of glaciers can have profound effects on a region. The result is a major redistribution of weight. As I recall the shorelines of ancient Lake Missoula rose after the melting of the area glaciers. Conversely, there were localized earthquakes caused by the filling of Lake Powell.
Water is highly liquid...it is heavy. The climate determines the distribution of this weight.
It seems to me that melting glaciers would have two effects: it would lighten the weight sitting on the areas once covered by the glaciers. It seems to me that a massive melting of glaciers would also increase the over all weight pressed down by the oceans. An unscientific guess would be that global warming would result in a downward force on ocean trenches and and upward force on mountains.
Unscientifically stated: I would not be surprised to see increased seismic activity as we turn this little blue planet of ours brown.
Thanks for the comment. Your interest in developing sustainable communities sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI think you are correct that changes in ocean currents due to Global Warming will have dramatic effects on seismic activity. The Gulf Stream and other thermal currents obviously put a great deal of pressure on tetonic plates. The melting of the polar ice cap would completely change this dynamic structure. Changing thermal currents would have a more dramatic impact on seismic activity than simple movement of materials and water to which I referred.
I've read a few books on Lake Missoula. There is good geological evidence that there is increased seismic activity as glaciers advance and recede. Of course, it is completely impossible to attribute any particular earthquake to any given cause. A dam might cause seismic activity. It is also possible that a dam would releive pressure presenting earthquakes.
I do agree that the world should be prepared for increased seismic activity resulting from global warming. Change leads to more change.
Your interest in sustainable planning sounds intriguing. The catastrophy around the Indian Ocean will reveal a great deal of poor planning and hopefully people will learn from the lesson.
Several news reports on Indonesia indicate that recent decades had seen a sizeable migration of people from the highlands to coastal areas. Big mistake!
Oddly, one of the effects of the billion of so dollars in aid to the affected regions is that the aid money will probably create economic forces that draw even more people into the coastal areas.
Rather than rebuilding the destroyed communities, I think we should think seriously about abandonning many of the affected towns and moving the communities to safer areas.
The same things happens in the US. We spend billions on flood relief. Effectively what do is place a tax on living in highlands and subsidize living in flood plains. This transfer of wealth ends up moving mover people into harm's way.
Planning for geologic change sounds very interesting. Most planners seem to plan for a static world. What you propose is starting with the assumption that the world is dynamic.
It seems to me that planning for systemic geological and climatic changes should involve a willingness to complete abandon cities and regions affected by change. Allowing migrating and a mobile work force allows people to move from places that become less hospitible to places where there is more potential for a quality life.
I think our natural impulse is to want to save all communities. However, it seems to me that ultimately, the world needs a dynamic structure that makes it possible to abandon places.
Think of a town at risk like New Orleans. New Orleans is below sea level. The changes we made to the Mississippi River prevent it from adding new sediment to that part of the delta. What do we do if the Big Easy is hit by a Hurricane? or if the town continues to sink?