Global warming irreversible for next 1000 years

There was a report on yesterday's Times of India(date:jan 28, 2009/page 15) about global warming. A study conducted by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), reveals that climate change is largely irreversible for the next 1000 years even if carbondioxide emissions could be abruptly halted. The report said that changes in surface temperature, rainfall and sea level are irreversible for 1000 years even if CO2 emissions are completely stopped. CO2 in present days earths atmosphere is 385 ppm as against 280 ppm before the industial age. the researchers emphasised that the increase in CO2 that occur from 2ooo to 2100 are set to 'lock in' a sea level rise over next 1000 years. Rising sea level would cause "irreversible commitments to futute changes in the geography of the earth, since many coastal and island features would ultimately become submerged," said the study. Some of the impacts would be decrease in rainfall, decrease human water supplies, increased fire frequency, ecosystem change and expanded deserts.