July 18th, 2010 In anticipation of possible rise in sea levels caused by Global Warming and Climatic Extremity, Singapore engaged the services of Delft Hydraulics, a Netherlands-based water research and consulting organisation in 1997. Delft Hydraulics subsequently set up a research centre with the National University of Singapore and the Public Utilities Board. With their help, the Marina Barrage was built but it wasn’t meant to be an effective solution against sea level rises. The Marina Barrage is more effective in keeping water in (as a reservoir) than keeping water out (rising sea level) considering that Singapore is surrounded by sea. The barrage comprises of nine numbers of 26.8-metre-long hydraulically operated steel crest gates built across the 350m wide Marina Channel to keep out sea water. Under normal conditions, the steel gates will remain closed to isolate the reservoir from the sea. During heavy rain, the steel gates will open as necessary to release excess stormwater to the sea when the tide is low. However, when it is not possible to do so during high tide, the Drainage Pumping Station capable of pumping up to 280 cubic metres per second will pump out the excess stormwater into the sea. The experts at Delft Hydraulics have warned that, if the ice caps melt significantly as a result of fossil-fuel linked Global Warming, waters could rise up to 6 metres by the end of this century, which would spell trouble for Singapore and many other coastal cities. Hypothetically speaking, if NO solutions are found to tackle Global Warming, we’d be looking at carbon PPM levels of 450-660 by year 2050 (presently at 380-400). That would translate into an approximate 6 degree rise in Global Temperature and the meltdown of all polar ice caps sometime around year 2030 to 2035. With the majority of its population concentrated in coastal areas of less than 2m in elevation, the resulting rise in sea level (2m-5m) will flood most of lowland Singapore, (in particular, the east coast area) not to mention the switching off of the gulfstream, air and sea current circulation mechanisms. Even if Singapore somehow manages to avoid becoming another Atlantis, the climate in Singapore will probably become even hotter and humid making life even more unbearable.
Singapore could be in “deep” trouble by the end of this century, warn experts via The Oil Drum
