A new study conducted by scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveals that global warming has raised the temperature of the world's oceans and places the blame squarely on man-made greenhouse gases.

The study says that within the next 20 years, there will be water shortages, melting of glaciers and other serious problems even if an immediate effort was made to curb emissions of greenhouse gases.

'The implications are huge ... and in the short term, we're sort of screwed,' said Tim Barnett, a marine physicist at Scripps, part of the University of California-San Diego.

The study showed a direct correlation between the release of carbon dioxide and the rise in ocean temperatures. This was born out on both a computer model and using actual data from the world's oceans.

Despite the dire warnings from scientists, the Bush Administration continues to show indifference to the problem and remains firmly on the side of industry and big business.

Bill Holbrook, a spokesman for the White House Council on Environmental Quality reiterated the administration's stance on the issue. 'Our position has been the same for a long time. The science of global climate change is uncertain.'

According to the study which was presented yesterday at a scientific conference in Washington, DC, the short term consequences of inaction may be serious, but the long term result could be deadly to millions.