Atmospheric Science, the weather, and global warming

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

I've often wondered why conservatives demand that the existence of global warming be held to a higher burden of proof than the existence of WMDs or even God.

Don't think I said it wasn't happening. I said there isn't really direct proof that it is man caused, especially considering the history of warming cycles on the earth.

[mousepod]

This thread reminds me of a great line Keith Olbermann said at the beginning of the month, when talking about the current heat wave in regards to global warming:

In some respects, asking whether one particular heat wave stems from global warming is a little like asking whether one individual sneeze was caused by the sick man‘s pneumonia. A heat wave is just one potential symptom.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

OK....been a while. I was going to post this in the random thoughts thread, but I though it deserved its own.

Storm season below average

I am not here to debate global warming. I fully admit that the earth is getting warmer at present, I just don't believe that man is the cause. Anyway.....

I'm not sure that I really understand the point you are trying to make with this thread.

First you say you don't believe that human created pollution is responsible for global warming. You then assert that global weather is too complex a subject to understand. So in essence what you are saying is that due to ignorance on how global weather actually works humans are not responsible for global warming. That's not good science.
It would seem that a more defensible and scientifically valid viewpoint would be to conclude that we don't know what factor human pollution is playing in global warming and go from there.

Also, Am I safe in assuming that you don't think the current level of pollution created by humans is a good thing? Should we not be making every effort to cut back on pollution worldwide regardless of what effect it's having on global warming? So what does it matter if global warming is created by humans or not? We still need to take the steps to clean up our collective act that are generally recommended by the green's.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

I'm not sure that I really understand the point you are trying to make with this thread.

Simply that the panic about the hurricane season, and what I believe to be an intentional linkage of record hurricane seasons to global warming, isn't coming to pass. No one comes out and says reduced hurricanes mean there is no warming. Plenty of people say increased hurricanes are caused by global warming.

I didn't say man may not be a contributing factor to warming. However, the natural cycle of the earth is to have warming periods and cooling periods. It has happened long before man produced green house gasses. My point is that I am tired of doom and gloom being thrown at me about warming when I do not believe that man is capable of doing anything about it. It happened before we produced greenhouses. It will happen regardless of what man does.

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I am tired of doom and gloom being thrown at me

Perhaps a cherrier avitar is in order then?

[scaeagles]

There is a difference between experiencing doom and gloom in the present and merely predicting it.

[Not Afraid]

I'll guess we'll just hav e to wait and see. It's not like any changes we make are going to have sudden results. So, do whatever you want to. I don't have children who will be living in the mess we leave.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

I'll guess we'll just hav e to wait and see. It's not like any changes we make are going to have sudden results. So, do whatever you want to. I don't have children who will be living in the mess we leave.

Whereas I have taught my children to do the dishes every night. I'm getting them used to idea of cleaning up after us.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I agree with Leo about scare tactics and linking stuff to recent catastrophes.

As usual with this kind of thing I am not surprised and I'm not horrified. People from all sides have used scare tactics torn from the headlines of the day to push their causes. One could even argue that in the face of a moral dilemma, it's not immoral to use these tactics, as long as it wakes people up. One could argue this but I'm not sure I'd swallow it.

I don't pretend to know whether it's right or wrong, but I do know it's expected. Just like politicians and salesmen lying.

This all has nothing to do with global warming or anything else, it's just a fact.

[innerSpaceman]

hate to break it to you, scaeagles ... but the uneducated masses are not the folks who are going to be exposed to An Inconvenient Truth.