Why do they talk about global warming like it's proven?

Question

I always see various tv shows or news channels talking about global warming as if it was proven. It's still a theory. I'm not asking about your views on global warming, but I don't think they should be allowed to broadcast information the way they are.

I'm sorry you think I'm some sort of person who doesn't know a thing about the global warming THEORY, I am well informed. I'm not against cleaning the air, or anything like that. Great, make the air clean! I agree with david m that there is a climate change. But there is no evidence that the WHOLE ENTIRE EARTH is warming. Some places get colder, some places get warmer. And don't give me crap about being some a$$ who loves polluting the environment.

There's nothing wrong with cleaning the environment, but I think they just broadcast global warming to scare people. Remember the bird flu? Hello? There are many other examples.

Answer 1

It is a very convincing story. The reason they talk about it as 'truth' is because the general public is not very keen on hypothesis and theory, they just don't understand.

Here is the reasons why it is so convining:

CO2 is 30% higher than it has been for 650,000 years. Methane is 130% greater. These are two of the main pollutants humans put into the atmosphere in excess, and they are two of the primary greenhouse gases.

Look at the 'hockeystick', which shows a dramatic warming since 1950 after a fairly stable climate for 1000 years. In fact, the 10 hottest years in recorded history have all happened since 1990, with 2005 being the hottest, and 2006 is shaping up to maybe break that record.
(see links below)

How's that for proof of man's fault in this? There is ample proof, any real scientist will tell you that.

There has NEVER been an article doubting man's influence on global warming published in a peer-reviewed journal. A recent study of almost 1000 proved that.

Yes, the earth naturally heats and cools, but the rate and amount we are warming now is unprecedented in the recent geologic past. We are doing this, and we must stop it. This is not some political statement or rhetoric. This is science trying to educate a crass, ignorant public of the damage they are doing. The magnitude of temperature increase ALREADY is about 10x that of the 'little ice age' of the middle ages, and rate and amount are only going up.

Just to be clear, glacial and interglacial cycles are mainly controlled by astronomical fluctuations, but we have a detailed record of the last 7 cycles, and what the climate and CO2 is doing now is way different and extreme. The rate of increase is much higher than in the past AND the value itself is much higher.

HI CO2:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4467420.stm
HOCKEY STICK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5109188.stm
General climate stuff:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3897061.stm

Answer 2

It is proven. I've seen many photos of glaciers, before and after, and it's truly frightening. Global warming exists, and it's our fault. Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have been rising. There has been no great catastrophe that would cause this (such as a giant volcano erupting) and though there is no definite proof, and there never will be, the evidence is overwhelmingly strong.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/CO2-Temp.png/375px-CO2-Temp.png

I saw a similar graphic in the newspaper; it shows the levels of carbon dioxide and temperature, and they rise at the same rate.


Reply to David m:

I disagree. Your proof is based only on surmise, just as this one is. I could say that the reason it's raining outside is that someone has spilt a bucket of water. We know it's not true. Give me cold, hard, fact an the changing of the winds, why they have changed, has anything else cooled down to make up for it, etc.

Global warming (if it exists, which is probable) is the same as climate change. The heating of the Earth would cause changing in the pattern of the rains, due to the change in the condensing of water vapour in the clouds.

Also, the Antartic is melting because there's a hole in the Ozone layer above it, not because of any wind movements. I suppose plus the global warming, it makes our prospects pretty scary.

Aaargh. We're doomed.


(Quote)

"What is needed here is not people pushing a global warming agenda. We need clear scientific research and the majority of scientists insist on Climate Change not global warming.

The world will suffer if we get it wrong."

Well said. What is needed here is for everyone to stop bickering with each other about who is right and waging stupid wars and killing each other and wiping out animals and destroying the forests (which has got to do with global warming AND climate change anyway)

-gaspgaspgasp-

and get a move on and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Answer 3

The best way to learn about your future is to study your past. It is clear and proven logically that patterns will continue if all variables continue unchanged. Global warming is happening in various ways and places, the glaciers are melting, etc, and that is a fact that can be measured. Maybe there is some amount of projection involved, but do you want to risk leaving that destiny or fate to your children and your loved ones children? Watch the movie "An Inconvenient Truth". It gives the information in a way that shows the facts of history and the pattern up to now. Then you can decide for yourself.

Answer 4

For much the same reason Christians talk about God as if He's a real thing; they are confident that the downside to disbelieving (eternal damnation and all that) does not compare well with the downside of being wrong (just dead). In that context, it makes no sense not to believe.

Since there is very strong evidence that human activity is causing a change in the climate, only a pig-headed fool would refuse to address the problem. What is the downside on being wrong about global warming? Cleaner air? Quelle horreur!

Answer 5

There is clear empirical evidence that global warming is occuring and most of it in the last 100 years is due to humans. This is mostly attributed to an increase of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Primary Causes: 1. Burning fossil fuels 2. Clearing forests

Global warming may be referred to as a theory, but it is widely accepted the same way evolution and relativity are.

Answer 6

Global warming is discredited. Whilst some areas are warming others are cooling. This has been shown to have occurred any number of times in earths history. The vast majority of scientists now rebut global warming but everyone accepts that "Climate Change" is happening and that is the term most scientists now use.

It is not for anyone to disprove global warming as it lacks proof and it would be a waste of time. Let the GW supporters come up with the proof.

The same amount or rain is falling - just in different places, causing floods and droughts in unexpected areas. The ice is melting due to a shift in the winds taking warm air across the ice. This is causing glaciers to break up quicker as the melted water on the surface seeps down and breaks the glacier down into blocks which crumble quicker.

Much of what is being done for global warming is good for Climate Change. The problem is that some of the things done for climate change are trying to fix things that ain't broke and in doing so could make matters far worse far quicker.

What is needed here is not people pushing a global warming agenda. We need clear scientific research and the majority of scientists insist on Climate Change not global warming.

The world will suffer if we get it wrong.

Answer 7

The last 10 years of global average temperature are the hottest years in the last 1000 years. It's not a theory if it's already happened.

NASA scientists say it's happening. The oil company says it's happening. Even President Bush says it's happening. Who else do you need for someone to say it's happening before you believe it's happening? I will go find that person and ask him for you if it's happening.

If you heard it was a theory, that was probably back in the 80s before anyone really decided to do any research and digging through the data.

Answer 8

Because, unless you are funded by a Republican who wants to ignore global warming for economic reasons, you will realize that it is proven.
Though the temperatures that the earth is currently at are not uncommon in earth history, the rate of warming is unprecedented. This has been clearly linked to the increase in CO2 following the industrial revolution. Look at the Mauna Loa curve, talk to any geologist who is reputable, and you will understand that it IS proven. Evolution is still a "theory", global warming is a FACT.
And for those who say earth has been this hot, and hotter before--you can look at the geologic record, it has been. BUT we wouldn't want to be there!
Some interesting nasty consequences you might want to check out that are currently manifesting themselves:
1. Spread of disease vectors
2. Changing migratory paths
3. NAO oscillations in relation to global warming, and their relation to right whales
4. Sea level rise

Answer 9

There seems to be a general agreement that the earth is going through a warming trend. Just compare pictures of the polar ice caps from 20 years ago to now and you can see the obvious difference. The debate is whether or not the warming is being caused by man made concerns like pollution, or is it just a natural event.

Answer 10

data is an rather good word. of course you will discover "help" on your assertion. particularly there is not any medical data, in basic terms doubt. the different style of knowledge could be criminal and nonetheless it may be headed that way the arguments are probably nicely wanting changing the status quo. in my opinion i'm going to accept as true with you a minimum of to a element. there is not any way i'm able to in my opinion degree the warming type, i'm able to be sure it interior the long term records nonetheless. bear in ideas that climate is now defined over a thirty year cycle. that may not long (i'm sixty) so we would now see all way of version in climate. The organic cycles human beings situation themselves with are often lots longer than that.