As well as having an impact on climate, earthquakes crumple buildings and devastate cities.

Geologists believe the rising sea level will have added implications which may prove even more decisive than the weather. The extra weight from millions of cubic kilometres of water may cause stress on weak points in the Earth's crust - known to experts as the lithosphere.

This could trigger earthquakes and volcanic eruptions along fault lines, causing local devastation and sending harmful gas and debris into the atmosphere. There's also an increased danger of tsunamis. These giant waves are generated from underwater earthquakes and can travel thousands of miles across an ocean, at speeds of 500 miles per hour. They appear without warning, causing waves up to 30 metres high.

Some geologists are predicting that the volcano on La Palma in the Canaries could explode at some time in the future. The result would send a mega-tsunami 500 metres high across the Atlantic, which could engulf parts of the UK.

Global warming is a worldwide phenomenon. Continents, countries, counties and communities may exist thousands of miles apart, but nobody lives in complete isolation. The repercussions of man's irresponsible behaviour and the resulting natural disasters affects us all.