90% of Puntarenas Could
Be Under Water Due to
Global Warming
According to a report by
Instituto Meteorológico
Nacional (IMN) and the
International Ocean
Institute (IOI), located
at the Universidad
Nacional, between 60%
and 90% of the town of
Puntarenas could be
under water by the year
2100, due to global
warming.
The report indicates
that the level of the
oceans is expected to
rise during this century
and could reach a level
of up to one metre
higher than the current
level.
Global warming is the
increase in the average
temperature of the
Earth's near-surface air
and oceans in recent
decades and its
projected continuation.
An increase in global
temperatures is expected
to cause sea level rise,
increased intensity of
extreme weather events,
and changes in the
amount and pattern of
precipitation. Other
effects include changes
in agricultural yields,
glacier retreat, species
extinctions and
increases in the ranges
of disease vectors.
If the prediction of a
rise occurs the report
says that up to 90% of
Puntarenas, mostly
residential area, will
disappear under water.
In the most of
optimistic predictions,
the rise would only be
30 centimetres, that
would affect 105
hectares leaving 60% of
Puntarenas under water.
The global consensus,
published by the
Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC),
is that the rise in sea
level will be at least
28 centimetres over the
next 90 years.
If global warming
accelerates, the rise in
seal level will be more
rapidly. The predictions
are based on satellite
images.
According to
oceanographer, Alejandro
Gutiérrez, director of
the IOI in Costa Rica,
the areas for most
concern are those low
lying coastal areas in
respect with the sea
level.
Today Puntarenas and the
surrounding areas of
Pitahaya, Chomes,
Chacarita and Tárcoles
is home to 60.000 people
and has a land and
infrastructure value
calculated at us$580
million dollars, an
amount calculated in the
year 2000, and
representing 3% of the
gross national product
for last year.
The International Ocean
Institute was founded in
1972 by Professor
Elisabeth Mann Borgese
as a knowledge-based
non-governmental,
non-profit international
organization devoted to
the sustainable
development of the
oceans. It operates
through the activities
of its Headquarters
residing in Malta and
Operational Centres
located in 25 countries
around the world. |
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