Why are there so many questions about global warming?

Question

OK, so this winter is warm in North America and Western Europe. Big deal. It's not global warming; it's just El Nino. Baghdad was 25 degrees F this morning. The Middle East is getting its coldest winter since 1964. Shouldn't you look at the entire world's weather before making hasty conclusions?

Answer 1

Amen!

Let's not forget that September and October was below normal for the entire nation (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/2006/oct/10Statewidetrank_pg.gif). And global warming talk disappeared for a little while. Though it still gets play whenever there is any kind of storm or drought.
These things have been happening for thousands of years.

I bet Denver people aren't asking global warming questions at this point, eh?

Whether or not global warming is a real thing... we're not going to see it in the day to day weather. The temperature rising about a degree Fahrenheit in a century... you're going to notice when its 73 this year and was 72 last year!?!
Let's stop blaming everything on global warming and relax just a little!

Answer 2

Global warming is just one-half of natural warming-cooling cycles Earth has been going through for hundreds of thousands of years. Our last ice age was the result of a cooling half of our latest cycle.

The fact that we are in the warming half of the cycle is confirmed by several, measured factors. First, CO2 and the greenhouse effect are on the rise. Second, the ice caps and glaciers are melting in both polar regions. Third, the warming part of the cycle is due now based on historical evidence. Fourth, the ocean levels are rising, indicating the surface ice is melting into the oceans. There are other markers as well...ocean salinity for example. The point is, there is a lot of measured evidence that we are in the warming phase of the natural cycle.

OK, then, if this a natural cycle, what's all the commotion about global warming? Well, the commotion (concern) is that this warming phase is coming on faster and stronger than ever experienced on Earth since life began. It's this faster and stronger onset, not the advent of global warming, that is attributable to manmade pollution in the air. And, if the trends we are now measuring continue as they are expected, the warming effects of this phase will be "off the charts." [See source.]

Finally, we cannot claim we are in a cooling or warming phase by allegorically citing weather conditions in specific places at specific times. That would be like saying America's kids are not getting obese by citing Twiggy as proof. No, global warming warning is based on averages, trends, and long-term effects. And, in fact, we do look at the entire world's weather, but over years, not one season.

To your point, none of these global warming conclusions was made hastily. It has been years since the first warnings went up. Since then, hundreds, if not thousands, of climatologists, physicists, and such have studied the effects. Not one single, legitimate scientist discounts the global warming.

In fact, the naive and nay sayers who believe the concept of global warming is inconvenient are the same people who have some sort of hidden agenda, usually economic or political, that would be foiled if everyone finally understood and acted to slow down global warming.

For example, if you were a real estate agent who wanted to sell some prized beachfront property, would you want to admit to yourself and your prospective buyers that the property will be under water in 2050? Oh, and that prime beachfront property...Manhatten, New York City.

Answer 3

Because we are in danger.We know that there are a lot of disasters.Tornadoes,thunderstorms,hurricanes,earthquakes.We know that these things happen, because global temperatures are rising and many people believe the weather will get worse in the future.The problems of climate change wont go away unless we do something about the causes.Scientists do not know about the reasons for these temperature changes.Scientists believe that if the temperatures continue to rise,the ice at the pole will melt.So,sea level will rise.Some islands might disappear completely,and there might be floods in coastal cities.All these means that unless we do something to stop global warming now,there may be many other dramatic changes in the future.

Answer 4

The concept of global warming(GW) is just a political tool used for swinging the tree hugger vote. Now that the dem's own the congress I can guarantee that GW wil ease itself out of imminent crisis mode to distant possibility. And should the White House fall, GW will all but disappear from the press. The earth goes thruogh thermal cycles Thousands of years long. Some scientists say that is is time to transition to a warm cycle. However, polluting the atmosphere probably doesn't help matters, but its kind of conceited to think that we humans are capable of shutting down a planet. If the threat of GW was soooo severe, wouldn't the alternative energy been taken more seriously than it has been. 30+ years and nobody has come up with anything better than a fuel that's been used for over 100 years?

Answer 5

Because global warming is a very serious problem we should be well aware of

In fact, the main arguments supporting global warming have nothing to do with this winter's temperatures. By the way, where have you read this winter's weather is related to "El niño"? Are you just making it up?

I totally agree with you that it's very important to be patient and honest enough to avoid adhering to long-term and complicated theories we can hardly understand ... being "global warming" and "el niño" two excellent examples

Answer 6

Global warming (which really should be called Global Catastrophic Climactic Change) is a world-wide, LONG-TERM situation. Anybody who tries to point to North America, this month (or even this YEAR) is taking a microscopic viewpoint of a macroscopic event.

Think in terms of the entire planet and in terms of decades of trends and events, and you get a better concept of what IS happening -- and will continue to happen. Yes, we will still have cold winters and hot summers (or vice versa!), here and there, now and then -- but the long-range outlook is glum!!

Answer 7

because the polar ice caps are melting duh... If you look at the total globe its warming but if you look at the ice caps alone its BLAZING hot out. People who say global warming doesnt exist should be living in lala land its basicaly a known fact that its happening. The question is what causes it... EM fields, Co2, Magma, the Sun? All possible and its possible all have an effect. So solving the problem will take all of humanity probably so the more people talk now the better off we are.

Answer 8

Because it's in vogue,so everyone jumps into the bandwagon,not too long ago it was the scare of another ice age,before that it was a giant asteroid would collide with earth,before that was drunk drivers.Now watch everyone jump into the bandwagon that the world is running out of drinking water,you can already (excuse the pun) hear the ripples already starting in certain talks

Answer 9

Because we have so many idiots suffering from greenhouse gas!

Answer 10

because that's what the focus is in science.