>I think it was presented as a hypothetical.

A hypothetical that no scientist, at least that I have read, thinks will happen. In 2001, the IPCC (United Nations - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) produced a comprehensive report indicating that global sea levels may rise by 34 inches at a maximum. That was their worst case scenario.

Apparently next month, the IPCC is going to revise their upper estimate downward to 17 inches. I am not at all saying that sea levels rising by that much is a good thing. In fact, I'm saying just the opposite.

However, I am pointing out that 20 feet is a wild, wild exaggeration meant to scare people.