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“. . . And after updated measurements, collated this week in our Washington office, we’ve calculated the sea-level rise to be eight-point-three inches over the last six months.”
Talk about burying the lede, Joe thought.
Two different murmurs ran through the room. One of disdain and one of shock.
The science crowd took that number with a collective gasp. It was worse than anyone had expected. Far, far worse.
In stark contrast, the political members in the crowd seemed unimpressed. In a city where every discussion was peppered with billions and trillions, eight-point-three inches didn’t raise the pulse much.
At least not until one multiplied that number by the entire surface area of the world’s oceans.
“Are you sure of these numbers?” someone asked.
“We’ve double-checked the data with NUMA’s independent analysis,” the speaker said, gesturing toward the NUMA contingent.
Rudi stood. “We’ve come up with the same figure.”
Among the elected officials present there were several from each party. Like any group, they ran the gamut of intelligence and political beliefs.
“Is this really that big a problem?” one congressman asked. “I mean, come on, people, eight inches? I got more water in my basement from last night’s rain.”
A wave of snickers came from the senators’ row.
Rudi Gunn took it on himself to reply. “Actually, Congressman, an eight-inch rise in the sea level requires an addition of twenty-one quadrillion gallons to the oceanic basins. To put that in perspective, we’re talking about three times the amount of water contained in all the Great Lakes combined. In a matter of six months. It is a big problem. In fact, it’s unprecedented.”
Hearing it put like that, the congressman sat down.
The speaker from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric board took it from there. “Of greater concern is the rate of increase. The pace is accelerating, with half of the increase occurring in the last thirty days. At this rate, we could see a rise of several feet by the end of next year.”
“Where is the water coming from?” someone else asked in frustration.
Joe sighed. The can of worms was firmly in place and the speaker opened the top without hesitation. “We believe there’s been a sudden acceleration in the effects of global warming.”
That did it. The true believers rose up in arms, stating various different versions of “We warned you this would happen” and calling in unison for “crash programs” and “emergency measures.”
On the other side of the aisle, the global warming deniers shouted back about “political stunts,” questioning the data and demanding an explanation as to how such a thing could happen so suddenly after years of being told it would take centuries for the ice caps to melt and the oceans to rise.
Down on the floor, the senator from Florida, who was running the hearing, did his best to rein things in, but a few bangs of his gavel were useless against the animosity. The arguing continued until a deep boom echoed through the chamber as one of the heavy doors on the upper level swung open and banged against the wall.
Voices temporarily silenced, all eyes turned toward the sound.
A man with unruly platinum hair, a tangled beard and broad shoulders stood at the top of the stairs. He wore a dark coat, wet from the rain, and studied the crowd through intense blue eyes. If he’d carried a trident, he could have passed as Poseidon, the God of the Sea.
“The iceman cometh,” Joe whispered to Paul and Gamay. “The beard is new, though.”
“It’s not global warming,” the Poseidon-like figure called out.
The senator from Florida stood. “And who, exactly, are you?”
“Kurt Austin,” the man said. “Head of Special Projects at NUMA.”
The senator appeared both surprised and put out at the same time. “My apologies, Mr. Austin, I didn’t recognize you. On the other hand, where have you been?”
Austin walked down a few steps so everyone could see him. “For the last six months,” he began, “out on every glacier and ice sheet in the Northern Hemisphere.” He shed his heavy coat and placed it on a chair. “For the last six hours, fighting traffic on I-95, after my flight from Greenland diverted to Philadelphia. Trust me when I tell you the traffic was the worst part of the trip.”
A wave of laughter made its way around the room. Only the speaker from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric board seemed not amused. “Are you one of those who doesn’t believe in global warming?”
“I take no position on global warming in general,” Austin replied. “Whether it’s really happening or not, whether it’s man-made, naturally occurring or caused by aliens, is for other people to argue over. What I’m talking about is this particular rise in the sea level. And I can tell you, unequivocally, the seas are not rising due to glacial melting, fracturing ice sheets or even the incredible downpours the East Coast has been experiencing for the last few days.”
