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05-25-2007 #1
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Debunking the skeptics- A scientific guide to climate change
Climate change: A guide for the perplexed
17:00 16 May 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Michael Le Page
Our planet's climate is anything but simple. All kinds of factors influence it, from massive events on the Sun to the growth of microscopic creatures in the oceans, and there are subtle interactions between many of these factors.
Yet despite all the complexities, a firm and ever-growing body of evidence points to a clear picture: the world is warming, this warming is due to human activity increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and if emissions continue unabated the warming will too, with increasingly serious consequences.
Yes, there are still big uncertainties in some predictions, but these swing both ways. For example, the response of clouds could slow the warming or speed it up.
With so much at stake, it is right that climate science is subjected to the most intense scrutiny. What does not help is for the real issues to be muddied by discredited arguments or wild theories.
So for those who are not sure what to believe, here is our round-up of the 26 most common climate myths and misconceptions.
There is also a guide to assessing the evidence. In the articles we've included lots of links to primary research and major reports for those who want to follow through to the original sources.
The myths:
Human CO2 emissions are too tiny to matter
We can't do anything about climate change
The 'hockey stick' graph has been proven wrong
Chaotic systems are not predictable
We can't trust computer models of climate
They predicted global cooling in the 1970s
It's been far warmer in the past, what's the big deal?
It's too cold where I live - warming will be great
Global warming is down to the Sun, not humans
Its all down to cosmic rays
CO2 isn't the most important greenhouse gas
The lower atmosphere is cooling, not warming
Antarctica is getting cooler, not warmer, disproving global warming
The oceans are cooling
The cooling after 1940 shows CO2 does not cause warming
It was warmer during the Medieval period, with vineyards in England
We are simply recovering from the Little Ice Age
Warming will cause an ice age in Europe
Ice cores show CO2 increases lag behind temperature rises, disproving the link to global warming
Ice cores show CO2 rising as temperatures fell
Mars and Pluto are warming too
Many leading scientists question climate change
It's all a conspiracy
Hurricane Katrina was caused by global warming
Higher CO2 levels will boost plant growth and food production
Polar bear numbers are increasing
http://environment.newscientist.com/.../earth/dn11462
Navin R. Johnson: You mean I'm going to stay this color??
Mother: I'd love you if you were the color of a baboon's ass.
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05-26-2007 #2
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Interesting how the neocon contingent has been less than vocal in this thread, seeing as the documents I've linked to more or less put your theories to waste.
Navin R. Johnson: You mean I'm going to stay this color??
Mother: I'd love you if you were the color of a baboon's ass.
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05-26-2007 #3
You know, I'm not even pretty sure any more that climate change is just due to the human activity. Not only is earth going through this drastic climate shift, but so is Mars, Neptune, Jupiter, and a number of other planets in our solar system (this is fact). We have to also realize that we've only been monitoring this planets activity for a short number of centuries, and core samples just aren't as reliable as recording data live, in present state.
We have better recorded data on the sun, than anything else in the galaxy, and I will tell you the sun has gone FUBAR'd the last few decades, and its only advancing at an ever increasing rate. Before we go screaming and shouting about what we have to do, we need to take our time and efforts away from war and put it into the space, health, and the well being of our planet, to figure out the real culprit of this horrendous climate change.
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05-26-2007 #4Originally Posted by LG
Based on a range of models, it is likely that future tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes) will become more intense, with larger peak wind speeds and more heavy precipitation associated with ongoing increases of ropical SSTs.
Take polar bears for example. They are not drowning. I know, I live here. In fact, Nunavut studies polar bear numbers very intently.
I`ll touch on weather.The left has poured on the propaganda in regards to weather and there is no denying it, although now the left-wing political scientists are telling their mouthpieces to pipe down on the overblown hot-air rhetoric:
1996, Newsweek "Blizzards, Floods and Hurri-canes: Blame Global Warming."
I could contintue but I suggest you read my posts on the hype of AGW.
When people abandon the truth, they dont believe in nothing, they believe in anything.
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05-26-2007 #5
Well LG what's the answer? I'm not a neocon, but I am a right wing nut job. I rarely drive my car instead I use public transportation or (God forbid) just walk.
Without providing answers the left is rapidly becoming the modern proclaimers of doom except having eviscerated religion out of their ethos the only recourse they offer is simply to die.
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05-26-2007 #6
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Originally Posted by guyone
The science is pretty much there and you can read it. The New Scientist is a very well respected but readable magazine (ie. it bases it's articles on actual science but it's not as boring as Nature and can be read by intelligent and interested non-scientists easily).
The alternative is not to die. The alternative is to adapt and improve. If we do not then, yes, maybe there will be few alternatives at some point.
Those rightwingers who question climate scientists should also question whether their opposition is driven by observations and intelligence or by politics and the urge to oppose any policy that might hurt their pockets.
Navin R. Johnson: You mean I'm going to stay this color??
Mother: I'd love you if you were the color of a baboon's ass.
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05-26-2007 #7
LG the problem lies within ourselves. As long as we blame others for the lack of progress then we conveniently have an out without accomplishing anything. People are too frightened of change no matter what their political persuasion they would rather have a whipping boy to blame all their problems on than do anything about an unpleasant situation.
Whether global warming exists or not I still hate standing next to an poorly tuned truck engine spewing out all sorts of crap. If we can't stop that from happening the rest of the issue is simply banter.
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05-27-2007 #8
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Originally Posted by guyone
And again, the problem is ours to solve. We voted for them. You can write to your congressman or senator, you can write to your mayor or governor, you can support non-governmental pressure groups that work for the environment, you can get out there and talk to people.
So yeas, the problem is ours to solve. But first we have to accept we might have a problem. This goes for any issue you care to mention- climate change, nature conservation, human rights, equal opportunities, education and more.
We can do it together.
Navin R. Johnson: You mean I'm going to stay this color??
Mother: I'd love you if you were the color of a baboon's ass.
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05-27-2007 #9
OK so I'll meet you on the corner at eight and we'll get started.
John Ellis Bush in 2012!
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06-27-2007 #10
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Bump!
Because this thread is worth reading, for two reasons.
Firstly, the first post reveals where one can read about the science behind the debate. Secondly the next posts show that two people with totally different political outlooks can actually discuss things in a civil manner.
Navin R. Johnson: You mean I'm going to stay this color??
Mother: I'd love you if you were the color of a baboon's ass.