Is global warming a real or imagined threat?

Question

I have my opinion about this already (well-informed at that) but I got into a debate with someone today about that very subject--the issue at hand was the recent string of severe snowstorms all over the country, including areas of the US that seldom get snow. I thought I'd bring the debate to Answers and see what responses I get. Honestly, what do you think?

Ok people! People! I'm just asking for your opinion, not a barrage of insults on my intelligence. If you must know I believe it is a very real threat, but I talked to someone who firmly believed that it involves more media hype than anything---similar to Michael Crichton's State of Fear novel. In fact, that book is probably where he found his "argument."
So please don't assume that I am misinformed or in the dark. To the contrary, I assure you.

Answer 1

I think it's a real threat. I mean, look at the polar bear population, which is slowly dwindling because temperatures are getting warmer, ice is melting, and the bears are drowning. Look at the change in weather patterns - how some areas are getting warmer, and others are getting colder. People can argue that we're going into another glaciation period and it's a normal cycle of the earth, but that doesn't cover the fact that animals are dying, smog is getting worse, the environment is suffering.

It's happening, it's just that people don't always want to hear the truth - they don't want to be told how to live, or how to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions if they're not receiving what they perceive to be a direct benefit from doing so. Besides, it's almost like the boy who cried wolf - scientists have been saying for so long that we need to change our lives because global warming is happening, so we sort of get immune to this kind of talk and don't listen as much when it's really crucial for us to listen.

And as my ecology professor told us before viewing 'an inconvenient truth' - it doesn't matter what your opinion on al gore is, the facts that he is saying in that movie have proven true.

Answer 2

It is real, no doubt, but not as dangerous or supposed to be hyped up as much as the media makes it out to be. My geography professor told our class (on the topic of meteorology and climatography), that what we do to try and prevent global warming is rational and all, but what's going on in the environment isn't necessarily as bad as the media makes it out.

For instance, back in the 80's, a computer model predicted that by now the sea level would be up 400 feet and all the coastal cities would be gone. I don't have the links, but he is an accomplished professor who know's what he is talking about. He also mentioned that we cannot predict what will happen to the environment since it is sort of like a chain reaction where unforeseen forces are affected by certain conditions to an extent.

In the end, the climate has changed vastly throughout the times of civilizations on this planet. It was warmer during the Egyptian Empire's height than it is now. The overall temperature was cooler in the last few years and suddenly rose in 2004...and it was cooler in the 90's.

They know about the climate through ice cores, deep sea cores, tree rings, tax records and the like (to see if there was a rise in grain prices, which would indicate maybe a famine or something).

Answer 3

I think it is overwhelmingly apparent that humans have some effect on the climate. i think we can not know what the extent of it is, and any attempts to are more guesswork than anything else. However, regardless of whether or not we know, I think we should behave as if it is a real threat, as it potentially is. If anything, living in a way that reduces pollution, consumption of raw materials, and wasteful activity is probably a pretty darn idea for a number of other reasons anyway. I know there is strong science for and against this, and while I think it is happening, I also feel scare tactics and skewed data is being used (by both sides)

Answer 4

Of course it is real. There are pictures of places 2 years ago and now which are completely different. No more water in the streams, no more ice bergs when there should be, sea water creeping inland, etc, etc. It is absolutely real. Even if the degree of temperature change can look very little, it is enough to do some serious damage.

Answer 5

imagined
if people wanna believe a "great scientist" like al gore, go ahead
I'll put my faith in God

EDIT: there is so little "evidence" as to be laughable... I'm personally pleased that we're cutting back on pollution from all these sources, but to think we are heating this earth at anything approaching an alarming rate is truly "chicken little"... the innercore of the earth, the true source of heat and the cause of almost all natural disasters, is what you should be worried about...the sun is the same distance as it always was, and since the data from the upper reaches of the atmosphere is, at best only 50 years old, no real conclusion can be reached... what effect did the eruption of the volcano in washington not long ago, have? that spewed more noxious gases and smoke in a few days than all the fumes we put out in decades... who's to blame for that?
Look, I'm all for the ecology, and I'm glad we're cutting back emissions, but that's more of a health concern than a "global warming" risk
global warming is much ado about NOTHING

Answer 6

very real. I live in Victoria Canada is an island , and very rarely snow s here, and last week we had alot of snow, a snow storm , that nobody went to work and shools, everyboby is in schook for what hapeend this week . 22 cm of snow in and island??? crazy!!

Answer 7

it was 68 degrees yesterday in NYC on Dec 1.

It is a VERY real threat..

CHeck out the flick, an inconvient truth, kinda in the same realm.

Answer 8

I feel it is real, but it takes some time for the full effects to be seen

Answer 9

Very true and dangerous, haven't you noticed that we get less snow every year?? And that the ocean level is rising?? Where have you been?? We're killing the polar bears!!

Answer 10

Very Real...Scary.