California will need 40% more water by 2030, they might get it, but it could be salty.

The Public Policy Institute of California released a study on Wednesday stating that California's water consumption requirements will jump by 40% by the year 2030.  The PPIC used population growth and demographic projections based on current  current water consumption rates.  I wonder if they considered any environmental issues in regards to future water usage.  Oh I think they'll get their water, it's just that it will probably be a bit salty.

Back in 1990, I was part of a volunteer group at Apple that worked on a HyperCard global warming information stack.  Back then, there was (and still is) a significant amount of skepticism regarding global warming.  Well, it's been 15 years since  I helped with the application and it's beginning to look like more signs are supporting the global warming theory.

There are some indications that we are starting to experience a runaway greenhouse effect. The average level of C02 gases for the past few decades have been increasing around 1.5 ppm per year.  This figure has jumped to an increase of over 2 ppm per year in just the last two years (World Press).  

 Thermal expansion has already caused the seas to rise 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters).  Evidence points out that during the last interglacial, the sea levels were up to 6 meters higher than today.  Check out this image and animation.  This could happen again if the west Atlantic ice sheet were to melt.  Check out the information on the Jakobshavn glacier, which has speeded up and nearly doubled it's iceflow to a whopping speed of 12,600 meters (7.83 miles) per year (spring of 2003). The glacier is also thinning by as much as 15 meters (49 feet).  The glacier accounts for 4% of the sea level yearly rise measurements.