Global Warming or Climate Change?

Question

Like millions of others, I have believed that we are the cause of the current changes in climate. I have just read a book (State of Fear, Michael Crighton) and it has made me think. There are many references to scientific research at the foot of the pages giving the Novel some authenticity.

How do I gain access to scientific research papers, so that I can read and make my own decision on this very important issue?

Answer 1

If you liked Crichton's book then you might like some of his speeches, especially this one...

http://www.michaelcrichton.com/speeches/complexity/complexity.html

Also, if you want another point of view about global warming, have a look at Christopher Monckton's take on it, here...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/05/nwarm05.xml

And part two, here...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/12/nclim12.xml&page=1

And you might be interested to hear that Al Gore wrote to the Telegraph and rubbished Monckton's article. Monckton's response to Gore is here...

http://ff.org/centers/csspp/pdf/20061121_gore.pdf

All of Monckton's stuff is well referenced, so you can look it all up.

Enjoy! :)

Answer 2

Global warming can DEFINITELY be caused by natural factors, not just man. The Sun greatly affects climate change on Earth, sunspots, solar flares, solar radiation storms and all solar activity affects the Earth greatly.
Also, CO2 from volcanic activity can unleash more harmful pollutants in a matter of hours than man has in the last 100 years- so temper your cries of blaming man for climate change with that knowledge. Methane released from the ocean floor can also be a large factor in the Earth's climate, as methane is 20 times more potent than carbon monoxide.
Sure man has affected the Earth's climate to some degree- how could he not? If you strike a match, you raise the temperature of the Earth, don't you?
Yet, for all the crying the recorded scientific data suggest that the overall temperature of Earth has risen less than one degree in the last 100 years. What, I ask you is that small insignificant amount? Merely by having more acurate thermometers and taking into consideration the urbanization of recording areas which were previously rural, could account for that slight elevation in readings.
Quit being a dope- climate change is a naturally occuring process that has been recorded to greater degrees- both warmer (the great warming) and colder (the little ice age) just since 400 AD- what we are seeing is somewhat due to man, but it isn't anything to become overly alarmed about either.
The Earth has proven it can regulate itself in the past through salinization and desalinaztion of the ocean currents from melting and re-freezing fresh water, so why would it not regulate itself now?

Answer 3

Hi there, if you are UK based, then scientific papers can be accessed at http://www.ingentaconnect.com
you might have to pay to get the full text of articles or you can read the abstracts and summaries of many of them for free.

Also, the British Library hold copies of every paper ever published in the UK, and will send you copies. I think they also have some web accessible materials available too, although I don't know for sure. You need http://www.bl.uk/welcome/researchers.html
Good luck!

Answer 4

Check out the web site referenced below. It pretty well shows that the IPCC scientists have concluded that the level of mercury in a thermometer controls the temperature in a room.

Answer 5

any one who watched the main news in the uk today will have seen that global warming has not only been confirmed due to carbon emmissions and the fault of mankind industrialisation and power usage over the last few decades. But that it is also inevitable that global temperatures will rise by about 2 degrees whatever we now do. And will rise by up to 5 degrees if we dont get our act together immediatley and realise we cant burn fuel either in our homes cars our workplaces without thinking and restraint anymore. The seas will rise and the arctic is melting its just a question if we can limit the damage by changing our lifestyles as human energy consumers not just for oursakes but for all life on this planet

Answer 6

Best will be to get the IPCC report when the full report is issued in a few weeks. It will cost money, it's 1600 pages.

Right now, these websites are pretty good, and have a lot of links to others:

http://climate.weather.com/

http://www.ipcc.ch/

Answer 7

This is the official report unveiled today

Answer 8

You could read the IPCC report.