is there any definitive proof that humans are causing global warming? the last i ever heard about this was when that book "the skeptical environmentalist" came out...
Global Warming
- Thread starter gopunk
- Start date
Hayabusa Rider
Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
- Jan 26, 2000
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There is no definite proof that humans cause global warming. Is it possible? I think so, but I need more data before I could say definitively
I think everyone knows we have something to do with it, but people disagree whether we have caused it single handedly, or if we are simply nudging a natural cycle a little bit.
You can't polute the earth for 200 years and expect nothing to happen to it.
You can't polute the earth for 200 years and expect nothing to happen to it.
<< You can't polute the earth for 200 years and expect nothing to happen to it. >>
200 years doesn't even amount to a thousandth of a second of the last minute of the last hour of the last day of the earth's calendar.
Russ, NCNE
<<
<< You can't polute the earth for 200 years and expect nothing to happen to it. >>
200 years doesn't even amount to a thousandth of a second of the last minute of the last hour of the last day of the earth's calendar.
Russ, NCNE >>
True, but sometimes it doesn't take much to throw a system off balance. The burning of fossil fuels speeds up only one part of a natural process.
The question is not whether we've caused damage, but how much damage. Maybe we've caused global warming and maybe the damage is so minute that it is negligable.
I can't believe that people don't think global warming is real. An ice shelf the size of Rhode Island just broke off a few days ago.
Our dilemna . . .
1) we don't know enough about global energy patterns
2) to make a model capable of predicting how human activity may affect those patterns
3) but even if we had the knowledge and the model said yes we might not be able to do anything about
4) and even if we could we might not if the cost is prohibitive . . . to Americans
1) we don't know enough about global energy patterns
2) to make a model capable of predicting how human activity may affect those patterns
3) but even if we had the knowledge and the model said yes we might not be able to do anything about
4) and even if we could we might not if the cost is prohibitive . . . to Americans
200 years doesn't even amount to a thousandth of a second of the last minute of the last hour of the last day of the earth's calendar
That's a major part of the problem . . . the Earth continues to have massive volcanic eruptions that spew tremendous amts of material into the atmosphere 300million tons of CO2 alone per annum. Simple minded say hey there's your greenhouse gas so our contribution doesn't matter. The ignorant ignore the fact that our oceans are the great CO2 sink far more so than the terrestial vegetation. In fact, more CO2 comes FROM underwater volcanos. It's natures balance . . . and nature operates on a geological time scale to keep things in check . . . how could we even begin to understand the consequences of human activity changing an environmental parameter in decades or even centuries. The outcome is unlikely to be good. Mother Nature created this great pad for us and we're abusing it.
That's a major part of the problem . . . the Earth continues to have massive volcanic eruptions that spew tremendous amts of material into the atmosphere 300million tons of CO2 alone per annum. Simple minded say hey there's your greenhouse gas so our contribution doesn't matter. The ignorant ignore the fact that our oceans are the great CO2 sink far more so than the terrestial vegetation. In fact, more CO2 comes FROM underwater volcanos. It's natures balance . . . and nature operates on a geological time scale to keep things in check . . . how could we even begin to understand the consequences of human activity changing an environmental parameter in decades or even centuries. The outcome is unlikely to be good. Mother Nature created this great pad for us and we're abusing it.
Lithium381
Lifer
- May 12, 2001
- 12,455
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<< Global warming is caused by cow flatulence. >>
i'm not sure what it's caused by, but it means, that in the end, we're all going to die
<< I can't believe that people don't think global warming is real. An ice shelf the size of Rhode Island just broke off a few days ago. >>
No kidding, and if you'll come to Michigan, I'll show you the land upon which my apartment building was built (not to mention the entire county). It was covered by a glacial shelf 15,000 years ago. BOO!
Knowing the history of the earth's climate, why does anyone expect it to be stable?
No, climate is not stable over geological time scales but it is relatively stable over human ones. We don't know exactly what stabilizes climate. The Global Conveyor looks like a good mechanism. Pretty damn sweet . . . almost makes me want to give some credence to the intelligent design quac . . . I mean scientists. But what if a miniscule decrease in North Atlantic salinity is enough to slow it down . . . and once it begins to slow it will quickly come to a halt? Yeah it will probably start back up but if I wanted to live in Canada instead of NC . . . well I would move to Canada.
No, climate is not stable over geological time scales but it is relatively stable over human ones. We don't know exactly what stabilizes climate. The Global Conveyor looks like a good mechanism. Pretty damn sweet . . . almost makes me want to give some credence to the intelligent design quac . . . I mean scientists. But what if a miniscule decrease in North Atlantic salinity is enough to slow it down . . . and once it begins to slow it will quickly come to a halt? Yeah it will probably start back up but if I wanted to live in Canada instead of NC . . . well I would move to Canada.
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