is global warming a hoax,i mean i have a SUV and i don`t see how this car can change the earth,?

Question

isn`t it all pretty silly ,i mean the earth does what it want`s when it wants regardless of the human race.just look at what science has proved with extinct species and dramatic weather pattern changes throughout the history of the earth

Answer 1

You are 100% correct! Climate has fluctuated since the earth began, and will continue to do so. Temperatures were actually higher earlier in the 20th century, something the alarmists don't like to talk about. I agree that dependence on fossil fuels is something to be concerned about, but it isn't causing global warming. There is more damage done to the atmosphere from volcanic eruptions than by all the SUV's on the planet! If the earth decides to hit us with another ice age, there's nothing we can do about it.

I wonder if "BrendaWise" or "David Dickerman" or "Amy G" or "Sophia" drives a car? How can they justify driving at all under their theory that gasoline engines cause global warming, just because it might not be an SUV? You can all be the first to commute by bicycle, set a good example for the rest of us.

OOPS! Looks like I hit a few guilty nerves! :D

Answer 2

Your car alone won't make a significant difference, but the theory (about which I am skeptical, as you will see) is that all the cars, plus all the stationary power plants, emit enough carbon dioxide to make a difference. The facts are these:
- The atmospheric level of carbon dioxide is increasing; it is up by ten percent or so from the beginning of the last century. The increase is commensurate with what would be expected from human activities that release the stuff. The present level is by no means the highest it has ever been; the level during the era of the dinosaurs was four times as high as it is now.
- Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas: it has a tendency to absorb infrared radiation and re-radiate it in arbitrary directions, so it can keep such radiation from escaping to outer space.
- The earth's temperature appears to be increasing. Glaciers are retreating, arctic ice is melting, and other similar phenomena are observed worldwide. But earth's temperature has been fluctuating throughout its history; remember the ice ages?
- The theory is that the temperature increase is a result of the increasing CO2. This is not proven, and indeed it is not provable (doing controlled experiments isn't possible); the thesis is based on computer simulations, which may or may not give correct results. Anyone who has tried to forecast the weather by computer simulation is well aware of the pitfalls. An important consideration which is generally ignored in the discussion is that, over the long term, there must be equilibrium between atmospheric CO2 and that dissolved in the oceans, which is fifty times as much as is in the air.

So, where does this leave us? It is not at all clear. What is clear is that the effect of efforts to reduce CO2 will be future and uncertain, while the costs of such efforts are real, substantial, and more importantly, now. A serious effort will result in a lowering of living standards -- that means that people will die. We will all have to be the judges.

Answer 3

What you may want to consider: Many people believe that because of the global warming/climate changes, there are going to be some dramatic environmental changes that effect our everyday lives. There are going to be storms and flooding so terrible that the economy of every country will be broken. Imagine just 10 cities being hit like New Orleans (at the same time). All of those people will have to relocate and find housing and employment. All of the businesses will either go under (no pun intended) or lose so much money that is will weaken their budgets. There will be competition for everything. Hospitals will be overwhelmed, crime will rise..........the list goes on. You may not be able to get your SUV down the road because of the chaos that will arise from these problems. Perhaps you could use that SUV money for something more important.

Answer 4

The earth doesn't "do what it wants". It simply is and WE do things to it. Here is a simple example: Imagine you have 2 acres of land. On one you plant trees of all kinds. The other you spray with toxins so nothing can grow. Will there be a difference in those two acres 10 years from now? Of course there will be. One will be cool and green and shady with a whole host of different insects, birds and mammals. The one you sprayed will be barren, hotter with much less diversity of species.

True, 99.9% of all species that have ever existed on this earth are now extinct. That is simply an indicator of how long life has existed on Earth. True, there have been natural fluctuations in climate. The difference is that today it is happening so rapidly. Remember, 1,000 years is a wink of an eye in geological time.

Also, the reason it is happening is a direct result of our burning fossil fuels. We are releasing carbon that has been stored for millions of years and we have done it in just a couple of centuries.

If you were the only one driving an SUV while the whole rest of the planet walked, then okay...your personal impact would be minimal. But you have lots of company. Be a leader...go hybrid!

Answer 5

The sun is burning hotter than it has in over a thousand years. That part of global warming is not a hoax. The hoax comes from the loony left says that man can control something as large as the Earth and the Sun and the stars! Think about this, if there is no way to destroy an asteroid FIVE miles across, how could man control anything larger?

Answer 6

The only people who want to promote ideas that question the reality of global warming are those who stand to profit from the continued sale of products that contribute to global warming. Unfortunately, this segment of the population includes a large number of people with political influence under the current system. Hopefully people are waking up, and this is beginning to change.

Indeed, global warming is an undeniable part of the experience of the ordinary citizen now. Also, the scientific evidence is overwhelming to indicate that at least a major factor in global climate change is human activity. You can't get around it.

As for your beloved SUV, it could be said that one such vehicle makes only an infinitesimal contribution to the mess; the problem is that there are millions.

Selling the SUV and converting to a small compact car or a hybrid car would not have an immediate effect; however, in the long run you would be contributing to the overall trend toward protecting the environment, and you would be helping to make a difference.

Answer 7

No, global warming is not a hoax. The only reason why you and a lot of other people still think so is because a lot of misinformation has been put out by special interests--especially the oil industry. For example, Exxon alone spent $39 million publishing bogus information in 2005 (source: teh Royal Society--the most respected scientific body in the world).

Look--1 SUV isn't going to make a difference in and of itslelf. But 20-30 million of them is another matter. The problem is that the earth's heat exchange balance is based on more or less constant factors--like the composition of the atmosphere. when cars, etc. put more CO2 into the atmosphere, its not like water evaporating--water will just precipitate out as rain in a short period of time. CO2 doesn't precipitate out (the temperature would have to be below -100 degrees for that to happpen) and it takes about a century for it to break down chemically. The amount we are putting into the atmosphere is trapping extra heat from the sun--causing a small increase in temperature--but one that has enormous implications.

Now, you'll hear that the earth goes through natural cycles of warming and cooling--and that's true. But what is different about this human-caused warming is that it is extremely fast, compared to natural cycles. Natural changes occur slowly--over thousands of years if they are this large. The plants and animals have time to migrate or adapt. But that's not happening this time--there isn't enough time.

We aren't "all going to die"--that kind of comment is silly--and none of the scientists working on climate change have said any such thing--though they've been accused of doing so. But here's an example of what could happen. remember reading about the "Dust Bowl" of the 1930s? (if not, look it up) Overuse of the land combined with a natural dry spell ruined crops for several years and hundreds of thousands of farmers lost their farms. Now think of that sort of thing--bad weather and crop failures, flooded coastal plains and having to build hundred s of miles of dikes to protect coastal cities--not in just one region but worldwide--and for decades, not years.

But--and here's what is really making the oil companies nervous--we have alternative technologies--right now--that can replace most oil and coal. And we can reduce energy use widthout giving up cars (the technology to power them would be different, that's all). And those alternatives--nuclear, solar, electric cars, and biofuels (to name a few)--don't hurt the environment. And--they are going to be cheaper in the long run. The only losers will be the oil and coal industries--and they know that global warming creates a real need to implement these technologies--and once people start to see how much they are paying for a second rate energy source, those industries are done for. And that's starting to happen already--check out what's happening in the solar energy industry--or just look at the Yahoo headline today--GM is starting up a project to market electric cars. And so on.

BTW--if you want to learn some of the REAL science of climate change, check out nasa.gov. they've got a lot of good information and links to legitimate websites--not the bogus ones.

Answer 8

One SUV does not cause global warming. But millions do.

World oil production is around 80 million barrels per day. That is 29.2 billion barrels per year. Written out, that is:

29,200,000,000 barrels per year.

Converting to a more familiar unit, that is 1,226,400,000,000 (1.2 trillion) gallons per year. This translates into, well, one hell of a lot of carbon dioxide. As such, it does not seem far-fetched to me that fossil fuels are the main cause of increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, or that the increase is the cause of global warming.

Unfortunately, getting one person to switch from an SUV to a subcompact won't end the problem. That is why government policy is so important. Government policies can change the habits of large numbers of citizens, thereby increasing the total effect.

Answer 9

global warming is the trapping of heat in earth's atmosphere by certain gases, mainly carbon-dioxide. it is true that it takes more power to move a larger vehicle, but the thought of them burning more gas does not totally rely on the machine itself; a toyota 4runner can probably drive 20 miles a day, but at the same time a 4 cyl sedan can maybe drive 120 miles a day. we can apply numbers and logistics to that statment later but the point is global warming does happen. these cars do produce green house gases that trap in heat, but it is mostly dramatized by the media and business.

man isn't the only thing producing green house gases. most of our carbon-dioxide is produced by volcanic action and other natural phenomena. since the development of the earth, volcanoes have been emitting greenhouse gases. so let's not all get up and yell at suv drivers without knowing the facts or trying to better yourself first.

Answer 10

Yes an SUV or anyother large car or truck can affect global warming, there are thousand, millions of suv drivers out there and just think of all that bad gas's affect on the world