Have you researched global warming?

Question

It seems global warming is widely accepted as truth, but I have heard some contraversy on the subject. I was wondering if you yourself had studied the other side of things. In case you don't have any information, I've taken some out of a Science book I own:

"Recently, special attention has been focused on carbon dioxide (CO2) & its contribution to the greenhouse effect. CO2 is a common byproduct of several natural & artificial processes. It is produced by people and animals, by decaying vegetation, by burning of wood & fossil fuels, & by many factories; it is also emitted by hot springs, volcanoes, automobiles, & power plants. Nature contributes about 200 billion tons of CO2 to the atmosphere annually, while mankind contributes another 7 billion tons--3.5% of the total. CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by plants, ocean plankton, coral, & natural chemical processes.
A closer look at the issue reveals a surprising lack of evidence for a global crisis."

Answer 1

It's time to give it up. Bush and the oil companies have come around to agreeing that it's time to start reducing CO2 emissions. (http://wcco.com/local/local_story_024232003.html , http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news+article+storyid-18097.html )

> "Nature contributes about 200 billion tons of CO2 to the atmosphere annually, while mankind contributes another 7 billion tons--3.5% of the total. CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by plants, ocean plankton, coral, & natural chemical processes."

By the way, just so you understand, your science book is bogus. Science books do not discuss issue like "global crisis". They just present what is known about the world. Plant decomposition and CO2 respiration from animals doesn't count towards CO2 build-up. That part of the cycle has been going on ever since animals evolved. The excess CO2 that we've put into the air from burning fossils fuels simply cannot be removed by the plant life here as we continue deforestation. That tiny 3.5% builds up year after year. After 50 years or so, the buildup is what has caused the CO2 numbers to go from 250 ppm to 380 ppm. And the consensus in the scientific community is that this is responsible for the climate changes that are in progress.

Answer 2

Yes I have, extensively.

I don't know how old your book is, but that is not the prevailing scientific view today. There's a ton of evidence we're headed for trouble; decreasing Arctic ice cap, failing Antarctic ice shelves, polar bears, increasing sea levels, etc.

Man's contribution may seem small (although I'm not sure of your numbers), but there's a fragile balance between things that emit CO2 and things that absorb it. We're messing up that balance. More about that here (see figure 1, especially):

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggccebro/chapter1.html

The article cited below illustrates the depth of the scientific consensus on this, and it's 2 years old. The consensus is stronger now, which is why the government has finally admitted it's real.

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686

"Such statements [those of skeptics] suggest that there might be substantive disagreement in the scientific community about the reality of anthropogenic climate change. This is not the case."

Read the article, it's pretty convincing.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, a lot of people like yourself have been confused by the pseudo-scientific stuff like you quoted--not surprising, it's written by people whose job it is to mislead you.

That "200 billion ton figure" for example--it comes from propaganda put out by Exxon corporation, not legitimate scientists. The actuall figure is a fraction of that. and as far as the 7 billion ton figure for huan sources--the US alone produces more than that.

Try nasa.gov for a legitimate site--NASA is one of the leading (genuine) research orginazitions on climate change--and their site has links to many other good sites with real science instead of disinformation intended to mislead people. Also check out the UN websit section on climate change.

Answer 4

and the question is....?

but still, i like what you said b/c you helped me learn a bit today!