If you have a temperature of 99 deg F should you rush to a hospital?

Question

99 is about the normal of 98.6. Aren't we doing the same by fretting over global warming?
Of course we all know that the normal body temperature varies by +/- 1 degree during the day.

Do we really know what the normal global temperature variation of the earth is?

WOW, a lot of you people don't get it. It's an analogy not literal. I'm not comparing the earth to the human body. I am pointing out the statistical significance of the variation. We don't know what is the normal earth variance. We only know the past 100 years or so. Don't bring in ice core samples as reliable data. They are only point sources.

We do have reliable data on the human body though.

Response to quelisto. Same holds true for your other data points (ocean salnitiy, etc). We don't have reliable data. So the variance could be within earths norms.

Say you are 55 years old. Imagine you only started taking your temperature last week and then only at 6 am every day. Then today you started taking your temperature every hour on the hour. If you had a temperature of 99 at 5PM would you panic. You could conclude it's out of wack.

My point is basic and solid statistics. Not guess work.

Answer 1

THANK YOU!! JOE JUST MADE MY DAY EVERYONE!!

Answer 2

Wrong analogy.

Sorry, it's not as easy to understand as you have made it out to be. It's not that a single statistic is varying in a way that concerns us. All over the world, we see signs that the climate is changing rapidly, in a way that hasn't happened since the end of the Cretaceous. Glaciers that have existed for tens or even hundereds of thousands of years are melting, the arctic ice cap is thinning, ocean salinity is changing, huge coral reefs are bleaching, etc.

To say that all of these things are just happening due to some totally misunderstood, random "natural cycle" is just bogus. The climate scientists who are studying and modeling what is going on aren't stupid. To claim that they are wrong based on supposition and a complete lack of education on the subject is a rather stupid thing to do, however.

Science is what has given mankind the ability to travel the solar system and conquer disease; to turn your back on it when the answers it gives don't suit you is to show the world an incredible lack of maturity.

FYI ice cores are anything but point source data, they are collected over widely varying locations all over the planet. Guess what? They all reveal the same thing, with remarkable precision. Gawd please take a geosciences course before you run your mouth!

By the way, I love your answer about the Flux capacitor/time machine. No wonder you question global warming, you have demonstrated beyond a doubt that you don't know a thing about science!

Answer 3

You are comparing apples and oranges when you compare human body temperature to global warming. The earth is not an endothermic organism which generates body heat through cellular metabolism.
The earth is an exotherm. It generates heat though the reflection and absorption of solar energy. Small changes in the overall temperature of the earth can take centuries to correct. Unlike a human, who can take an antipyretic or bathe in cool water to lower body temp.
Small changes in earth's temp also result in vast changes in climate insofar as snow melt, evaporation, and ice formation.
Do we know what the normal variation of the earth is? No, we don't. Accurate temperature readings have only been taken for the last century and half or so.
Do we need to pay attention to the amount of carbon dioxide, methane and ozone we produce? You betcha!
Should I also point out that as human body temperature climbs, cellular activity is inhibited. Humans, like the earth, function best in a narrow temperature range. Too cold, and cellular metabolism ceases due to the lack of circulation. Too hot and cellular metabolism ceases due to the inactivation of enzymes and protein metabolism.
If you are using earth as a metaphore, do you really want to wait until we have to drag out the cooling blankets and ice baths to save the patient. Those people who suffer prolonged high temps often end up with brain damage. Now extrapolate that to climate change.

Answer 4

There is no Maximum temperature that proves that global warming is real. The maximum recorded temperature in the US was 134 F, and was measured in the year 1913. The maximum measured temperature in the world was 136 F, and was measured in the year 1922. These maximum temperatures were both around 90 years ago despite the fact that we have supposedly had the "10 hottest years in history" during the last 20 years or so. These temperatures were recorded during a time when the earth is relatively cool. In earth's 4.5 billion year history, maximum temperatures were certainly quite a bit hotter than those max. temps.

Answer 5

I'm sure the people who died in Katrina because a smal hurrican exploded into a superstorm as a result of a 1 degree change in the temperature of the Gulf o fMexico would appreciate your attitude.

Point--you arguing apples and oranges. But even if you werent--The point is a trend--that is leading to a 4-5 degree cange in average temperature. And i fyou have a temperature of 103--yes--you'd better get to a hospital.

Answer 6

The earth goes through natural heating and cooling cycles. Methane and carbon dioxide are naturally produced by the earth and other animals in more abundance than what man produces.

Also, a temp of 99 degrees is fine, and that jackass that said you should do something about it is one of those people that are causing health costs to rise by over utilization and probably hates that his insurance premiums are high and doesn't think it is his fault.

Answer 7

global warming is different. even the slightest changes in temperature can do so much. besides the ozone layer dissapears and a whole bunch of worldwide effects take place...i mean its not an instant change, but progressively over a very long time, things will change noticeably.

Answer 8

I don't know what the global temperature variation is, but I bet the scientists who study global warming do. And I don't think they would be in such a tizzy right now if the projected temperatures were within reasonable variations.

Answer 9

I think the diffrence is a body temp is changed by a virius or bacteria which can be removed or corrected. where as global warming is permant damage. like when you take a sander to a piece of wood. and you keep wearing in it down. if you keep going in one spot there will be a hole in that spot and you can not put the whole back.

Answer 10

Interesting way to address this issue.
I however, plead ignorance to the pros and cons as I honestly am not fully educated on the whole global warming thing.

Answer 11

Gore used almost the same analogy last night on the news.