Global warming is highly controversial. There are several studies and reports being generated to support both sides of the argument. One argument states that global warming is not the massive global issue it is purported to be. While the other argument clearly shows evidence that global warming is occurring and it is a large problem. In order to understand the reports on global warming it is important to establish what the global warming theory really is. Global warming is the increase in average temperature both in surface air and oceans. Another section of global warming is considered the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect shows that the increase in temperature is leading to a lower atmosphere. The greenhouse effect supports the thought that the ozone is being affected by the rise in carbon dioxide and methane. The above are generalizations about both theories in order to simplify it and answer further questions. The rise in temperature is affecting coastal communities. It is important to understand how coastal communities and residential and commercial real estate values in low-lying areas will be affected, when, how, and prevention methods.



The Environmental Protection Agency, Consad Research Corporation, NRCM, and IPCC are just a few of the environmental research companies studying global warming. In a recent study completed by the IPCC the prediction that global warming will have a significant impact on coastal communities was found. Global warming is melting the ice on the Earth's surface. Places such as Antarctica, Greenland, Alaska, Alps, Andes, and the Rockies are seeing an increase in their receding glaciers. Glaciers around the world are receding around one foot to one mile per year. The melting water is flowing into our water systems increasing the elevation of seawater. The IPCC found that seawater levels have increased 4-5 inches since 1900. They are also predicting that sea levels will rise at least 2.5 feet by 2100.

The first part of global warming is the climate change. With the climate change we will be experiencing an increase in temperature around 1 degree Celsius to 5.5 degrees Celsius by 2100. Other effects of climate change include having varying weather patterns. Hurricanes, snowstorms, and rainfall have been increasing in certain areas around the world. Each time an increase in the amount of rainfall or snowfall occurs we are gaining more water. While it is true that evaporation will take care of some of this extra rainfall and plants will help take in the water we will still see an increase of water levels. The other side of this is creating warmer drier areas. Places like the desert will become drier from the higher temperatures. It is also true in some areas that coral reefs are becoming visible on the surface because of evaporation.

There are several proposed plans for preventing an increase in temperatures and water levels. The Supreme Court in California has proposed stricter regulations on car emissions. CO2 emissions from cars are just part of the pollution problem creating the greenhouse effect. The burning of fossil fuels and land use are creating changes in the carbon dioxide levels. Studies have shown that carbon dioxide has increased by 31%. Cutting down the rainforests have created more carbon dioxide to be in the Earth's atmosphere due to a lack of plants to soak up the available carbon dioxide. With the burning of fossil fuels, car emissions, and lack of plant life in some areas the carbon dioxide will keep increasing. To prevent this increase we are trying to create environmentally friendly cars, establishing stricter regulations on current automobiles, replanting forests, and changing to natural gases to avoid burning fossil fuel. The question will this be enough, is difficult to answer. While we may reduce carbon dioxide production, once we start a chain of events it is difficult to ascertain if we can stop it.

As individuals we can stop driving our cars for the littlest things. In other words we can become more economic in the uses of our resources. We can use less energy or at least create energy efficiency in our personal lives, we can also recycle goods. Natural product use is another idea in order to eliminate more carbon dioxide production.

The coastal communities that will be affected are those in low altitude areas. The Caribbean, North Carolina's Outer Banks, Japan, and other Asian countries will be affected. The best protection for these coastal communities will be stopping the increase of sea level. In other cases, sea walls or retaining walls can be built to help keep the water from reaching the homes, storefronts, and our lives. Dredging to reduce sea level and increase landmass will need to be done in every country that will be affected. The last option is moving. People may have to abandon their homes to save their lives from rising levels and storms.

Cutting down carbon dioxide emissions, bringing awareness to individuals regarding global warming, and monitoring the Earth's changes will help save the coastal communities. Part of the affect will be in the land values and investments in coastal communities. While the land values are not decreasing at the moment there is every possibility that in fifty years there will be a decrease in land values due to an increase in insurance rates. Insurance companies are not going to want to insure homes for a reasonable cost when the sea level increases to a higher danger; therefore people will not want to purchase land in a danger zone.