That’s a good question. It is important to know what sort of increase is expected. If it’s a couple of inches, that isn’t much of a deviation from the normal variation of +/- ~1 foot. If it’s two feet then there is going to be a problem for sure.

“Does it affect our drinking water supplies?”

I would not expect an increased water level to affect water supplies, and the reason why is that Fairfax County wanted to get their water intake pipe into deeper water several years ago, so they could get water with less sediment in it.

“Think along the Illegal Immigrant problem - brewing for years, and largely ignored, until one day, someone wakes up and Oh my Goodness, look at what is happening - oh the shock and horror.”

There are people who benefitted (and continue to benefit) from the illegal alien problem. It was ignored for a reason. Not because it had no consequences, but because it was believed that the benefits outweighed the consequences.

Incidentally, C-Span reran the 1984 Presidential Debates last year and the subject of illegal immigration came up. I suppose that most people concerned about it at that time lived in border states. Certainly, in 1984, it wasn’t on the radar here in the Prince William County area.

I don’t think anyone stands to benefit from a rise in the level of the Atlantic.

“or, do you think a rise in the Atlantic would have no impact on NOVA?”

Any worthwhile calculation or estimate of the impact of a rise in the Atlantic would need to take into account the natural water level variation of the Potomac.

And while Sen. Cuccinelli’s response is humorous, his understanding of statistics leaves much to be desired. There is scientific evidence of climate change, and the models for ocean levels rising have been pretty well peer-reviewed in the scientific community. There are also some pretty clear models on asteroid strikes and the like. Even if you question the whole global warming argument, the odds (based on current scientific study) of ocean levels rising are far higher than the odds of an asteroid strike. Such hyperbole on the good Senator’s part demonstrates just why he had such a tough battle against a floundering opponent the last time around. He’s out of touch (which might explain why he’s a hero around these parts). Even a relatively conservative estimate of a two-foot increase in Atlantic sea levels by 2100 would have a devastating impact on Northern Virginia (and Hampton Roads-Norfolk as well as some seemingly unlikely locales like Boutetourt, Rockingham, Craig, and Pittsylvania Counties).

One would think that a good Christian would understand the Bible’s directive for us to be good caretakers and stewards of Creation.

http://www.zillow.com/aerial/DualMapPage.htm?zpid=37520815

The facts are that the Oceans of the world are rising. You can blame it on whatever you want - maybe it is the Gas produced by Cows.

http://www.vagazette.com/news/local/vanews2-9-26-07,0,1377110.story

It will be interesting to see who get the last laugh on this one.

I have met Patrick Michaels and have seen him speak a couple of times. He is extremely knowledgeable and you understand why the “global warming” cultists refuse to debate him.

Speaking of these cultists, a NASA scientist (and I use that term loosely now) wants to put all skeptics in jail:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/23/fossilfuels.climatechange

http://www.zillow.com/aerial/DualMapPage.htm?zpid=37520815

During my spelunking days, I didn’t see anything resembling cars drawn on the cave walls. Maybe the cave folks hadn’t achieved that level of technology - or the ancient forefathers of Henry Ford may have been swallowed up by a dinosaur during the test phase.

Or, maybe they were so busy devising various ways to use fire for profit and personal convenience they had too much fun to record the new technology … technology that destroyed the dinosaurs and other prehistoric mammals.

The world goes through cycles of change. The only thing consistent about our earth is that is continually going through change.

Personally I would like to see an end of fossil fuels - the by product smells bad, makes breathing difficult on hot humid days, and its expensive. I ride a bike and walk alot not so I might be hailed the Ghandi of the environment - I do it because I’m cheap and it keeps my doctor from chewing me out like a 3rd grader during my visits.

Is the use of fossil fuels causing the ice caps to melt? I have no idea - no more so than the cave men knew if those darn fire sticks may have caused the whether to turn cold and kill off the dinosaurs.

and how much is that High tide expected to rise on a daily basis - or during a Huricane is the level of the Atlantic rises?

Does it affect our drinking water supplies?

I would rather see us spend a few hours and a few dollars to try and prepare for a future event, rather than sleep at the wheel, and then just discover a problem that has been lurking for years.

Think along the Illegal Immigrant problem - brewing for years, and largely ignored, until one day, someone wakes up and Oh my Goodness, look at what is happening - oh the shock and horror.

or, do you think a rise in the Atlantic would have no impact on NOVA?

The Potomac River is known to rise and fall by a couple of feet on a daily basis; high and low tide. It’s also known to rise and fall due to the amount of rainfall we have or have not gotten.

So there is quite a bit of variation just under normal circumstances.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion/oped.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-06-19-0016.html

What are the impacts to NOVA is the Atalantic rises by 2 inches?
How much does the Potamac River rise by the effects?
What happens after the Atalantic rises and a hurricane comes through similar to how Isabel came through a few years ago (causing flooding in Alexandria)?

I do not think it is similar to an asteroid hit at all. If there are potential hazards that appear to be in our future, our elected officials should be preparing now.

Janet and Ken inlcude topics like this in each of their E-newsletters.