• Question: When and why do you think London will be underwater?

    Asked by mizzlily to Dilwar, Lou, Rachel, Simon, Susan on 16 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Susan Skelton

      Susan Skelton answered on 16 Nov 2013:

      There is a possibility that cities like London could become underwater if the sea level were to rise. Many scientists think that this is a real risk.

      Global warming is causing the ice in the arctic and antarctic to melt which raises the level of our seas. If the sea level rises enough, then yes, London could find itself underwater.

      Climate change and global warming are very difficult to predict because they depend on so many different things. So it is very difficult to predict when London might be underwater. Some environmental scientists think that it might happen in a hundred years or so, while some think it would take much much longer.

      Either way, we all have the ability to prevent this happening, or at least slow it down, by choosing to change our behaviour (making less pollution, planting more trees).

    • Photo: Simon Langley-Evans

      Simon Langley-Evans answered on 16 Nov 2013:

      Mizzlily, I don’t know when it will happen, but one day it is bound to be a problem. London is on the River Thames which is a tidal river linked to the sea. Global warming is making sea levels rise and is also causing extreme weather. The most likely cause of a flood is a big storm, maybe like the one that hit the Philippines or the hurricane that hit New York last year. This could cause a storm surge up the Thames that will overcome the awesome flood defences of the Thames Barrier. It won’t be a permanent flood, just a temporary thing, but it could do a huge amount of damage. London relies on the underground trains for example and a flood could ruin that system.

    • Photo: Dilwar Hussain

      Dilwar Hussain answered on 16 Nov 2013:

      As Susan and Simon explained, global warming is causing sea level rises flooding different areas of the continent. Bangladesh which is below sea level is a country that faces flooding every year. It’s very difficult to say when London might be underwater as there is the Thames barrier which is high enough to prevent flooding like we’ve seen in other countries. However storms might be a problem as strong winds can wreck havock on buildings and other systems. The important thing is to use other cleaner sources of energy like nuclear and renewables and slowly steer away from fossil fuels. That will at least help slow the effects of global warming.

Comments