Is Global Warming only a periodic cycle the Earth goes through or is Al Gore right?

Question

Consider this - humans have cycles in biorhythms, female monthly cycles, etc. All of these cycles can be altered or stopped by using artificial means such as drugs. Don't you think the same thing can happen to the cycles of the Earth when pollution is forced into the atmosphere and onto and into the Earth like a drug into the body.

Answer 1

There are natural causes of climate change that are well understood. Ice ages, for example, are caused by "orbital forcing", changes in Earth's orbit that cause extended periods of longer or shorter winters in the Northern hemisphere. Since Earth's orbit can be computed for centuries into the past and future, orbital forcing can be computed and predicted with decent accuracy.

Now here's the kicker: orbital forcing indicates that in the current interglacial era, Earth's temperature peaked 6000 years ago, and should be slowly cooling since then. (Here's a reference) http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/207/4434/943

In other words, the natural cycle that causes ice ages has already peaked, and should be taking us in the cooler direction. But current temperatures are going higher at a rapid rate. All ten of the ten warmest years on record have occurred since 1994.

Meanwhile, the current level of CO2 in the air is higher than at any time in the last 23 million years, and the growth in CO2 shows no sign of slowing down. (Here's a graph).
http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/fig3-2.htm

Answer 2

The increase in global temperature is well within the natural range of known temperature variation over the last 15,000 years. Indeed, the earth experienced greater warming between the 10th and 15th centuries - a time when vineyards thrived in England and Vikings colonized Greenland and built settlements in Canada.

To really know the truth, just follow the money. Homuch money do you think Al-Gore made by promoting the idea of global warming?

Answer 3

There is an 11-year cycle but it does not explain over one hundred years of temperature trending upwards. Each time the cycle comes back up, it comes back up a little higher than the last time.

Answer 4

I think it could be both.
I think there is evidence that the Earth does go through periodic changes in the overall climate, and that might be happening now.
However, I think it's very likely that human activity is accelerating this change.
Regardless, if something is not done, and quickly, the planet is going to be radically different, and I don't think anyone knows what the final consequences might be.

Answer 5

The Ice Age, I assure you, may have been part of a cycle. But the earth's cycles are much longer than a species can imagine, or plan for, or survive!

Answer 6

No one knows. Years ago, I read that if not for global warming, the planet would be 50-60*F colder than it is now. The question is not whether global warming exists--it does--but whether global warming is as bad a crisis as the environmentalists say.

Answer 7

It seems prudent to make some environmental corrections just in case...what if we can stop it? A lot of the steps we can take are also just plain good for us, so it seems smart to institute. Seems especially people that own expensive beach property would be concerned.

Answer 8

My guess is that some of both is happening and that Al Gore is working hard to get some political points.

Answer 9

Have you ever been at 30 thousand feet and looked out the window? No way me using hairspray or driving an SUV can affect the atmosphere let alone my neighborhood. Al is laughing all the way to the bank.

Answer 10

I wish we knew. I don't really care if Florida or California ends up under water. It's the polar bears that I worry about! :-(