Issue date: 3/12/07 Section: Money/Health

The ramifications of this warming are extensive, he said, including the continuing rise of sea level.

If the models are correct, by 2050 sea level will be up another 30 centimeters, he said.

"A lot of coastal cities would be subject to more flooding. A lot of coastal plain agricultural areas would no longer be available, which means food supplies would be reduced, which means famine," Running said, adding these are just some of the major consequences.

Freshman Ashley Zimmer said she thinks the recent "weird weather" has a lot to do with global warming, and it does concern her. She said she's been hearing about it a lot in the media.

"I was watching the Academy Awards and Al Gore was talking about that," she said, and "I know that a lot of celebrities are trying to get the word out by driving hybrid cars."

She said she even saw a movie, "The Day After Tomorrow," that dealt with the issue of the melting polar ice caps and a new ice age.

"(The movie) is really exaggerated. Obviously we're not going to have an ice age tomorrow," she said, "but … it's going to affect our offspring."

But if humans are causing it, Running said we can undo it by simply being smart about what we do to the environment, citing reducing the amount of gases we put in the atmosphere, driving less and more efficiently, insulating houses, turning off lights and buying locally.

He said before long people will realize some changes need to be made.

"I wouldn't go into the Hummer sales business, because I don't think it will be very long before the public will accept this idea to the point where they're going to make some changes about their consumption of things, whether politicians and the government lead or not," he said. "I think the average Joe on the street is going to see and hear enough to be convinced on their own that they are going to make personal changes."

And Zimmer said she does her part.

She said the issue is always in the back of her mind and tries to recycle as much as she can.

Junior Alan Voss said he is educated on the issue as well.

"I know that no one is entirely sure what exactly is going on and it very well could be a natural phenomenon," he said, adding he tries to help by turning off appliances and lights when he isn't using them.

Overall Voss said global warming is a concern of his, but not a big one.

"It really doesn't affect me right now," he said.

So while the jury is still out on what is causing the warming and how extensive the effects will be, Running said one thing is for sure: "We'll know when Florida is underwater."

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