Is global warming happening?

Question

I live in Maine, and it is 60 degrees during the daytime. That is UNHEARD of in December. What can we do about this?

Answer 1

Don't use as much electricity

Answer 2

I believe it is, and some of what Algore has to say has some validity, but most of it not. You have to remember that the polar ice caps are still remnants of the last ice age, so in time, they are bound to melt. If you study natural history, you will find out that much more of the earth was covered in water. You would also know that as the earth travels and spins around the sun, neither event takes place perfectly every time. The earth may travel a little closer or a little farther from the sun, as well as it's spin become a bit of a wobble. Something had to happen to create an ice age, no? Also, in my opinion, if we were to shut down all the factories and give up our cars and trucks and revert back to the stone age, all the pollution that wouldn't be produced would be belched up with the first volcano eruption... so much for that. What people refer to as global warming is simply a reversion to the way things were many millions of years ago, and these factors we can do precious little about.

Now that I've pissed off the tree huggers, I'll give the flip side. It is clear that there is a rise in CO2 levels as the earth gets warmer, and here's where I think the problem lies: Deforestation and urban sprawl. You see, all trees and plants are like little oxygen factories. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees use CO2 and sunlight and release oxygen into the air. Again, in my opinion, the more trees and plants that are cut down, and the more land that is paved over, the fewer trees and plants there are to process all of the CO2 back into oxygen. Is this caused by overpopulation? Perhaps. On top of the factories, trucks, cars and other things people like to blame, we ourselves, as humans, produce massive amounts of CO2 by merely breathing. Add to that all of the animals that are raised to feed us (and in no way am I advocating vegetarianism), and we just may be tipping the scales where there simply aren't enough plants.

So what can we do? Well, plant a tree, it'll make you feel better, at least. Perhaps China (while I would NEVER support communism) has the right idea with population control? Drive less? Ride a bike (of course this will make you breathe harder)? Or we could just chill out, enjoy our ride on this floating rock we call earth, and hope we adapt to a warmer, more wet world... at least until the next ice age. Remember, it wasn't the initial impact of the asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs, it was the air pollution that it caused.

Answer 3

Global warming is occurring, but the change in weather is very slow-- it's like trying to watch your toenails grow. The reason scientists know it is occurring is because current average temperatures are higher (like a few degrees) than the temps from, say, 50 years ago. Can you tell that it's been half a degree warmer every year on average since you were a child? I can't. 60 degrees in Maine in December is probably "unheard of," but it doesn't necessarily point to global warming. If it were 60 degrees everyday for the next 10 Decembers, then it MAY be due to global warming. What can "we" do about this is a tough question-- the problem is air pollution, where the primary blame is carbon dioxide emissions-- how do we regulate a compound that we breathe out everyday? The problem is much more complicated when we account for politics, economics, and society. Ways for us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions include less driving, less combustion (i.e. use of electricity), addition of trees, etc. (Less driving and reducing use of electricity also leads to cheaper gas and electric bills.). However, because the change is so slow and gradual, even if we were to mend our ways, we probably wouldn't notice any improvement in the global warming phenomena (warmer temperatures globally is thought to produce more extreme weather patterns, such as major droughts in unusual areas, increased hurricane activity, etc. Perhaps we would notice changes in this aspect, rather than temperatures). This is more of an issue in providing a sustainable environment for our children and grandchildren.

Answer 4

Hi Chuck,

Look.. this Global warming thang.. it's all hoggwash.. SURE I gots burnt myself last week after two hours exposure to the sunlight.. and the latest tourism activity is getting dropped onto massive icebergs floating off New Zealand's coastline..

BUT..

There's no global warming.. Your Preseedent George Doubleya Bush said so.. he also said we have to get terrorists and that liberal thinkers are bad!

So fear not Chuck! Keep driving the SUV, infact.. buy a second one for spares! And what the heck.. keep undating with all the regular new release mod cons.. and most importantly.. keep that TV running 24/7.. fill the home with television.. we all need it..

Sure.. America currently represents 5% of the global population yet produces 50% of it's pollution and harmful Co2 gasses.. BUT .. maybe one day.. America will be trumped by the billion Indians and Chinese.. who now want all the same things America has "acheived".. then we will have even more Co2 and space junk.. "can't WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yippee!!

So fear not Chuck.. global warming is a furfy..

furthermore Chuck.. Global Warming will fix itself one day..

Unless a meteo slams into the planet first.. passing easily through our now highly delicate atmosphere due to "as yet" unknown scientific discoveries ABOUT our atmosphere and the importance of it's strength.. so it's all good chuck.. space junk, Co2, holes in ozone layer.. BIG DEAL!!

Get over it Chuck.. there's more important things.. like Electronic neck massagers, Television and take away burritos..

Answer 5

Yes.
Humanity is pumping more CO2 (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere than ever before. We are not sure how big a role it's playing, but regardless we ARE contributing to the problem.

Look at the Arctic ice cap and the glaciers and you will see things are heating up. The Polar Bear is already running into trouble because there is not enough ice for a long enough period in the Arctic.

Fall is ending later and Spring is coming earlier and that is starting to put additional stress on plant and animal life which base many aspects of the life cycle on the seasons (like pollution and human encroachment aren't making things hard enough).

We ignore these warning signs at our children's peril.

Answer 6

Well, you must live in a parallel universe or something, because we have not had one 60-degree day this month.

It is not unheard of for temperatures to reach the upper-40s and 50s, though.

Answer 7

We are going to figure out what to do and the results will most probably be a whole new way of living for our kids and their kids. They will be more aware of the respect needed to give to the earth which was, by the way, created first, so it deserves the respect of its inhabitants. It will not go back so far to the days of basic life style. In fact it may be so much more elaborate and high tech. Fuel from the sun source will be most available, therefore will be used in its new capacity. We may or may not see this in our time, it seems to be the wave of the future...

Answer 8

No..







..sh*t.

Haha sorry, couldn't help that. There was recently a report out by this guy called Stern, and it contains some pretty detailed data/analysis of the global warming situation. Unless we do something about it, looks like we're out for a dangerous following decades. The report predicts major flooding, food shortages, etc., and mainly in Third World countries that have enough problems already as it is. GW is obviously not a problem we can just avoid anymore.

PS - loving how the ignorant people give low ratings to anyone who says yes to GW..

Answer 9

I live in Maine too. I believe that global warming is happening everywhere. The winters here aren't what they once were. We have tried to get the prez to listen but he doesn't want to hear. We are fighting in a war that uses man power, countries threating to blow us to kingdom come and big corps running america. We need to stop selling cars that run on gas. That would cut out a lot of emissions. No one will listen to lobbists in Washington. The prez can make things turn around and be good. I don't think he has the heart to save his country anymore. He wants to leave this whole mess for the next person. I just hope it is not to late to change.

Answer 10

Yes, there's no question that it's happening. There are all kinds of crazy weather patterns all over the world. We will really see the results of all our pollution in the next 10-15 years. We can try to recycle and carpool but it's going to take alot more then a few people....until the world starts to see big changes in the environment nothing will happen to stop it. Big companies don't want to lose money and we live in a world of convience and don't want to make any sacrifices. Have you seen An Inconvient Truth? It has alot of information about global warming...everyone should see it!

Answer 11

LMAO,just pick up a farmers almanac and you will see that weather is cyclical.No global warming as there are not any scientists that can back up facts..except with cow flactulance lol.Years ago the tree huggers said we were going back to the ice age now its global warming..,give them a few more years and it will be something else.Merry Christmas.