New Warning on Climate Change [from Prof. Bill McGuire, Benfield Hazard Research Centre, University College London’s]

The UK could be transformed into a string of different islands due to climate change and rapidly rising sea levels, according to new research.

Experts at UKTV History say the Earth’s changing weather patterns will have a devastating effect on the UK, leaving London and other cities under water.

They warn that even a small rise in sea levels due to melting ice caps would see the sea encroaching far inland.

Source: ITV1 Teletext p312, Tuesday 28 June 2005 1032hrs BST


The UK could be transformed into a string of different islands due to climate change and rapidly rising sea levels, according to new research.

The study suggests changing weather patterns will have a devastating impact on the country leaving the centre of London and many cities under water.

The study was commissioned by the satellite network UKTV History to mark the forthcoming series, The British Isles, a Natural History. It is led by Professor Bill McGuire, the UK’s top authority on environmental issues at the Benfield Hazard Research Centre.

The UKTV History research team is drawn from University College London’s Benfield Hazard Research Centre.

The flash floods and sweltering heat that have hit Britain over the last few weeks could merely be a taste of things to come, a team of experts warned.

The team matched rising sea levels scenarios against NASA Space Shuttle topography mission data of the UK. This enabled the experts to produce the first of a detailed map to show the possible impact of global warming on the shape of the British landscape.

The UK could be transformed into a string of different islands by rapidly rising sea levels, researchers found. One possible scenario would be a 7 metre rise in sea levels if the Greenland or the West Antarctic Ice Sheet melted, the study suggested. This would drown the centre of London and leave many of the UK’s cities and coastal towns including Edinburgh, Newcastle and Bristol water-logged.

Rising sea levels caused by climate change would have a devastating impact on the UK with the country turned into different islands a study has claimed.

The second worst scenario unveiled by the UKTV History team would be a 13 metre rise if the Greenland and West Antarctic Ice Sheet BOTH melted. This would see the sea encroaching far inland, especially in East Anglia, Yorkshire and Cheshire.

A doomsday scenario would be caused by an 84 metre rise in sea levels if the West AND East Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets melted. The researchers said this would only happen if we do nothing about gas emissions, leading to a crisis greenhouse effect.

If we ever reach this state, little beyond the hills and mountains making up Wales, Scotland and the spine of England will remain.

[In related news] an extreme flooding exercise has tested Britain’s reactions to an unprecedented disaster caused by climate change, the Environment Agency has revealed. The scenario for last years emergency dummy-run suggested thousands of people would be left homeless. Senior officials were confronted by high spring tides, storm surges and high winds sending massive waves onshore along the east and south coasts.

Source: ITV1 Teletext p324, Tuesday 28 June 2005 1040hrs BST

Yet another reason (if one were needed, one affecting our own doorstep whatsmore) for the G8 leaders to take firm and decisive action to tackle climate change.