First, I don't really want to hear the argument FOR humans causing Climate Change, I know those.
I am wondering, if it is not caused by human activity, but we still have this rampant change, is the prognosis still the same?
If it is caused by increased solar activity for instance, and it continues, would we still have to act in order to not have catastrophic failure of the Environment?
Is it enough to say that it's caused by the Sun, and that thus we should not do anything?
Is inaction the best route if it is a Solar problem?
2007-03-31 08:14:06 · 3 answers · asked by Luis 6 in Environment
The problem is too much CO2 in the atmosphere. Given the improbable assumption that this is not a human-caused situation, the problem still remains, and the difference would be how likely we are to succeed in fixing it. It might be better news for all of us if we know we can control it. If the problem was "solar" or outside of our control, then we'd be pretty much out of luck.
2007-03-31 08:27:37 · answer #1 · answered by Stacy 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The primary difference between solar variation and athropogenic causes is the speed at which things happen.
In the last half billion years there have been 4 periods when the world has been substantially warmer than it is now - between 4 and 6°C warmer.
Natural changes occur very slowly. Recently (in geological terms), the world has been warming very rapidly - by about one two thousandth of a degree per year. If it were possible to completely remove the human contribution to global warming the natural trend would probably still be a warming one and this would continue for an unknown period of time.
The scenarios that are being predicted over the course of the next 50 to 100 years would likely come about of their own accord in the next 5 to 10,000 years if there were no change in natural variation.
I guess if it were entirely natural the question would be - should we mitigate the effects through geoengineering or adapt the way we live and where we live. 5 or 10,000 years would provide plenty of advance notice and by that time life on earth would, I'm sure, be radically different.
2007-03-31 15:28:14 · answer #2 · answered by Trevor 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
what are you gonna do, go punch out the sun? any damage that we MIGHT cause is miniscule compared to the rest of the things thatcould cause climate change
2007-03-31 15:19:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋