Can I just clarify something for a minute? Global warming is a fact, not a theory. A theory is an untested idea, opinion or hypothesis. The Earth IS warming, and it is proven with data collection and direct evidence. (Disclaimer: To all proponents of apocalyptic "global warming," it is very important to point out that this is a very normal cycle in Earth's rhythms. Since its beginning, it has undergone several drastic cooling and warming periods.) Because of the strong recent warming, the updated trend over 1906 to 2005 is now 0.74 ± 0.18 degree C; and thats only 100 years.
( all graphs from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies' "Global Surface Temperature Change" paper published 8-3-2010)
Aside from the most obvious evidence of actual temperature rise, sea levels are rising due to unprecedented glacial melt. Since 1993 satellite observations have permitted more precise calculations of global sea-level rise, now estimated to be 3.1 ± 0.7 millimeters per year over the period 1993 to 2003.
Prior major warmings in Earth’s history, the most recent occurring 55 million years ago . . . resulted in the extinction of half or more of the species then on the planet. The principal driver of recent climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels. The report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) places the probability that global warming has been caused by human activities at greater than 90 percent. Although further changes in the world’s climate are now inevitable, the future, particularly in the longer term, remains largely in our hands—the magnitude of expected change depends on what humans choose to do about greenhouse gas emissions.Concentrations
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today are roughly 35 percent above preindustrial levels. Oh mercy, there I go again...anyway, thats an entirely different lecture I'll save for another post someday. :)
Perhaps some reason for the non-acceptance of global warming is that personal perception tends to outweigh masses of date; and people confuse weather with climate and care more about local events than global trends. I'm certainly not forcing you to become overly-ambitious enthusiasts, just simply to stop calling global warming a "theory. Because, by its very definition, its not. Besides, you just look really silly when you argue with facts.
More importantly than your opinion, is the reliability of the source of which you build that opinion:
Reliable Sources:
SVERY unreliable sources:
I like hot summers :-)
ReplyDeletehaha, i love that you have foxnews under unreliable sources. nice blog rachel!
ReplyDelete-zahra