Global warming seems to be a fact of science, but........?

Question

...If man is the root cause of global warming, how does this explain the "Roman warming period" between 200 b.c and 400 a.d. in which temperatures rose very much the same as they are now? And...how does this explain the global cooling period starting around 440 a.d. in which many civilizations document dramatically colder temperatures than normal even in the summer?

Hey, don't get me wrong. A cleaner environment and alternatives to fossil fuels are a great idea and I support them. But, could global warming simply be the earth's way of regulating it's own temperature?

Answer 1

Global warming is at the fore front because politicians found how to use a new platform to get re-elected. The world leadersuse it because they found ways to make money at it. This is a made up problem just like Global Cooling in the 1970's. Wake up people. I agree we need to be more efficient with our resources, and we should fine and jail companies who are dumping into our rivers maliciously. I want to stop the raiforest destruction, but to say that global warming is a serious man made issue and we need to destroy the American economy and bow down to the rest of the world certainly does not float my boat. Follow the money on this one and you will see that it is all for political gain and grant money for those scientists who profit off of the government if global warming stays at the front of the issues. Look deep into the Keoto (sp?) Treaty, first of all they took jets to a non-central resort location. Not very environmentally concious. THen in the parameters of the treaty they have a clause that makes it so you can buy or sell polution credits. This is all about shifting wealth and breaking down the United States. This is painfully obvious, just look at peoples agenda. The earth's mean temperature has risen .6 degrees C in the past 125 years. Greenland's icecaps have gotten colder in the past 10 years. The Scientists who do not gain anything on their posisition will tell you that the earth has a natural progression and this is what we are seeing. The UN report is made up of POLITICIANS not a good spread of scientists. THere are as many or more scientists who believe that man in NOT the reason and it is over hyped, but their voice is not heard in the LIberal Mainstream Media. WAKE UP AMERICA, IT IS TIME TO BE AMERICANS. FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE. STOP THE LIES

Answer 2

Yes, climate change occurs naturally. And yes, man is the cause of the current global warming.

There are natural cycles of about 20,000 years, 40,000 years and 100,000 years that have been somewhat regular over the last 800,000 years for which we've been looking at ice core samples. (There's information from other sources such as sea sediments that goes back further, but it's not contradictory.) The information from the ice cores leads us to infer that we have been enjoying a cyclical warm period and we were about to head back into an ice age.

However, due to the buildup of greenhouse gases, the descent into ice age isn't happening. This would be a good thing except that the buildup is so huge as to send things reeling in the other direction.

This recent buildup is primarily due to deforestation, end products of fossil fuel combustion and methane produced by livestock. Right now CO2 is at a level 30% greater than any seen during the last 800,000 years and the rate of CO2 increase hasn't been seen in millions of years.

Here's some background info on climate change from a politically neutral source written about 8 years ago: http://www.lakepowell.net/sciencecenter/paleoclimate.htm .I found one inaccuracy in it. It says, "So far in the past 18,000 years, the earth's temperature has risen approximately 16 degrees F and the sea level has risen 300 feet." That directly contradicts the graph above where it shows a rise of only 5c which is 9 degrees F. Otherwise, the information seems to agree with other stuff I've read.

The 4th IPCC report was made available a week ago and said basically that the science was unassailable. It had been presented to policy makers earlier and as a result, Bush got into line in his SOTU address. And now, ExxonMobile, which had been responsible for funding most of the global warming skepticism (http://www.exxonsecrets.org/ ), just put out a statement saying basically the same thing (http://www2.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Newsroom/NewsReleases/corp_nr_mr_climate_ipcc.asp ).

I think the discussion now is going to be more centered on what to do about it rather than whether or not it's a problem.

Answer 3

For some reason people are falling into the "Static Climate Trap" where they believe that the temp of the Earth should be the same every year. Currently the temp of the Earth has climbed less than 1 degree over the last 100 years, and this to them is a problem.

People liked to be scared. Look at roller coaster rides, and scary movies for example. Remember the hype before Dec 31, 1999? We were told that airplanes would just drop from the Sky.

Yes, we should do what we can to reduce pollution, and since over 1/2 of all ghg's come from power generation, nuclear power is a must.

Answer 4

First, global warming is NOT a fact of science.
It is widely believed that humans are responsible for global warming through increased CO2 levels resulting from internal combustion engines and other industrial byproducts.
However, to date, there is only circumstantial evidence that the warming of the earth is caused by humans.
Scientists have yet to discover a direct link.
Despite which side of the argument you agree with, the direct link has not yet been established.

Throughout the history of the earth there have been periods of warming and cooling. The causes have been many and varied.

The length of time humans have inhabited the planet is MUCH too short to draw any conclusions, yet.

One reason it is a big issue is simple. Fear.
Fear is something that motivates us to do many things.

Many people benefit from the fear generated by this issue.

Scientists are receiving huge grants to do further study.
Anti-capitalists have ammunition for going after 'big oil' and 'big business'
T.V. and movie producers put out more and more t.v. shows and movies with global warming subjects.
Socialists see it as an opportunity to pass more and more governmental regulation.

So, each side is throwing out propaganda to further their cause and it will take time to figure out the truth.

Answer 5

As I've read, global warming is occurring. I've also read that the amount of global warming that is anthropogenic in nature is unquantifiable. I don't think man is looking back far enough (nor can he) to determine what is really going to happen.

Do you really believe that by 2050, we'll be able to fry eggs on the pavement in the middle of winter? How can this be predicted when the national weather service can't accurately predict what's going to be happening in 7 days weather-wise?

I've also read that the earth typically heats up just before another ice age begins. And, we are apparently due for one in the next millenium. I also have read that this is the earth's third atmosphere.

We are looking at a short interval in climate on a planet that's 6+ billion years old, and are making overconfident estimates.

Just because fear-mongers repeat something over and over again, doesn't make it out to be true. I think the tactic is to repeat it enough so that people start to believe it.

Answer 6

Roman warming period between 200bc and 400ad, is a result of thousands of wars fought between people in Rome s well as many other places on Earth! And then the cooling period was just due to the people settling or calming down and involving themselves in researches and religious prachings and so on!
I mean to say that the global warming or cooling is due to the human beings!
Let me explain, the earth started as a fire ball and cooled itself to form land, water and things like that! Then many natural calamities also would have warmed the earth quite a bit and as you think, warming is a natural way of earth regulating its temperature, but, the earth is facing an entirely unnatural warming and yes "Roman warming period" could have been both natural and unnatural, but the present day global warming is totally by the humans and it's the cause of future distruction of this wonderful planet!
But still, somewhere in my mind, i feel your thought could be right, if so, it's good for every one!

Answer 7

the earth is always changing and looking to the past to see if we are just going through a phase is wishful thinking. the changes we have made with smog are here to stay for some time if we dont stop our break neck pace. mother earth may just sneeze and recover or the melting of polar caps could make for some land mass changes that are not so nice. like white water rafting from the great lakes to the gulf and its all free. however its all just a toss in the dark because there are so many factors involved.........we really shouldnt mess with mother nature.

Answer 8

The "facts" you describe are from the book, Unstoppable Global Warming. The fact is, people will say anything to sell a book. A book does not have to be peer-reviewed by scientists. It does not have to be vetted. It can make whatever claims it wants, and make money off of those claims.

If you want facts, look to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). This is an organization that bases its findings and recommendations on peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Answer 9

I believe global warming is effecting our weather; but, I don't believe that is caused by aerosol cans or gasoline engines!
Have you ever seen the videos of atomic and nuclear bomb testing??? There was a special on HBO that showed detonations somewhere out west around Nevada or Arizona in the 1950's...WOW, you really have to see it to believe it!!! Back in school, we saw a little 2" x 2" black & white photo of a mushroom cloud; but, these videos showed the real effects...a huge red, orange & yellow burst that ripped skyward and expanded in to a mushroom cloud about 2 miles wide that ripped a giant hole in the earth's atmosphere and on the ground: buildings crumpled to the ground, giant trees that were 5 feet in diameter were ripped out of the ground and along with military jeeps were swirling in a tempest that resembled a tornado. And, now third world countries like: India and North Korea are conducting tests of their own! So, let's see...what do you think is doing more harm to the Earth's atmosphere...pssst, a little spray of deodorant or a GIANT upheaval of radioactive fire that rips a two mile wide hole right thru the Earth's sky?????

Answer 10

Yes there we're warming an cooling periods in the Roman times, and in Mideval times, but there are two basic flaws with that argument:

One: It wasnt AS hot as it is now.
Two: Temperature wasn't rising exponentially like it is now.

Same with global cooling

But I agree with your second statement, my basic belief