The primary source of these changes is the increasing concentration of greenhouse gasses like CO2, methane, and fluorocarbon refrigerants (like Freon). The gasses insulate the planet and prevent the sun’s energy from being reradiated away from earth, resulting in a few degrees of warming of the planet. Carbon dioxide causes 62% of radiative warming, and refrigerant molecules, though low in number, have 20,000 times the insulating effect of CO2.

Most (80 percent) of the past 40 years warming is estimated to have gone to warm the oceans, causing the water to expand and sea levels to rise. Along the New York coast the sea level has risen about 2.7 cm in the last ten years, and could conservatively add another 10 cm in 20 years. Furthermore, Greenland and Antarctica are covered with thick layers of ice which are rapidly melting in places. It is not known how much of this ice will melt, but melting will certainly increase the rate of sea level rise. Low lying areas like Long Island’s south shore will be most affected as shoreline is submerged and salt water floods estuaries and basements. The warming of the oceans will have a further unpredictable effect on the ocean currents which affect climate across the globe.