"But what is it about the idea of a current global warming trend that is being driven in significant part by human activity that you object to?
Do you deny that there is a greenhouse effect caused by atmospheric gases?"
Greenhouse affect is mostly caused by water vapor.
"That carbon dioxide is one such gas?"
It is one of these greenhouse gases. But it's also fairly scace in your atmosphere: .038 % or 380 parts per million.
There far more water vapor in our atmosphere.
"That much of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide in the past several decades is the result of burning fossil fuels and forests?"
It seems reasonable the some of the increase in atmosphere CO2 is due to these factors.
"That current global average temperatures are increasing?"
In last couple centuries global temperatures are increasing- though if they weren't we would probably consider ourselves be still in the Little Ice age.
"That there has been a sharp increase in the rate of temperature change in the last several decades?"
I would say it's an increase in global temperature which can be describe as part normal temperature fluctuation
"That this rate of increase is much greater than at any measureable time in the past? (note: rate of increase, not total increase)"
This would only true in sense that we don't have an accurate enough measurable past- that it can be considered accurate enough to measure tenths of degree in temperature.
"That increasing average global temperatures will have a significant effect on both local and global climate patterns?"
Not really. It's more of case of local climate patterns overwhelming the barely measurable increases in Global temperatures.
"That these effects will be harmful to many life forms (including humans) and ecosystems?"
No. If we had significant globe warming it would benefit life forms- and an increased CO2 is quite benefical to plants - and animals depending on plants to survive. I suppose plants that had slower growth could be affected because other plants around them are growing faster. Or plants surviving better in freezing conditions would have other plants crowding them out. But tropical areas are generally thought to not affected much according most models predicting effects from GW.
That these effects will be harmful to the world economy?
No, and certainly not in comparison to political efforts like Kyoto.
"That there can be a "tipping point", at which gradual changes in climate could become rapid?"
Seems unlikely there is this tipping point. Earth has had much warmer periods than what we have now, or could have in the next century.
"That if such a tipping point were passed, there could be significant melting of both the Greenland and Antarctic ice caps? (I don't think you would argue that sea levels would not increase significantly - in the range of many meters - were that antarctic cap to melt)."
The average temperature of Antarctic is -37 C. And Greenland is showing no signs of melting. And there is no reason to suspect that global temperature will likely rise, say 1 C in next 50 years. And if global temperature were to rise 2 C in next 50 years, Greenland's ice is not going to melt. If you took all the ice in Greenland and stacked in the middle America plains, it would take decades to melt. Or put in the Sahara Desert, it would still take decades.
Current Events » in reply to What exactly do you object to, Tom?
re: What exactly do you object to, Tom?
The whole thread (34 posts)
- Global warming: the final solution
- Crazier & Crazier. The flaws of ideology are become more evident.
- Death threats from the Right
- As I said
- re:My guess is that this news was intended for the April first issue. (n/t)
- PS - Forrest Mims is an Intelligent Design advocate
- I call bullshit
- FINE...what does this prove?
- Did you ever notice...
- A standing ovation....
- Did you ever read Omni magazine?
