What do you think about global warming and what has brought you to your conclusion?

Question

I am taking a Global Climate Change class and I know where I stand on "global warming", but I am curious to see what makes people think the way they do about this issue. Is there any scientific basis for your view or do you just believe Al Gore? Have you researched this? Have you looked at both "sides"?

Answer 1

It snowed in Malibu. The world is fine.

Answer 2

Al Gore means nothing, and neither do movies. But, the logic of global warming does make plenty of sense to me on a common-sense basis. And it helps that there are a lot of reputable scientists who support it. And in a sense it does not matter if it is truly global warming - I do believe that lowering the amount of carbon dioxide emissions is good for the future of the human race. No matter what Al Gore says. As for studying it - I am trying just to survive and pay my bills, I am an expert in other areas but I do not expect to put in the effort to become an expert in this one. And, I very much doubt that anyone here on Yahoo Answers will put in the sort of effort that PhD's and real scientists have and continue to put in.

Answer 3

when aliens or whoever dig up our time period from an archeoligical site in 200 million yrs from now, they're gunna say wow!! dirty lot those human were!! ive read a few books but the one that got me was by Tim Flannery (the weather makers) he was just announced as Australian of the year, so very reputable. he supports a theory of global dimming! yes the world should be getting colder!! but due to the doona we call the ozone layer it's stayed about the same if not a touch warmer that it used to be. in effect the amount of energy being released by the sun is less than we got only 100 yrs ago. how do we know this. farmers in Australia dont have to put as much water into troughs as they used to. (less evaporation. all the pollutants we are releasing into the atmosphere, form this doona.)

Answer 4

Yes, I have studied the matter and looked at both sides for the last 10 years. I am an environmental science teacher and I try to read and read to keep up with issues.

Logic tells us that we have increased the total carbon dioxide of the atmosphere through our use of fossil fuels. The ancient atmosphere had far more carbon dioxide in it than today's atmosphere has. When the organisms lived and died those milions of years ago, the carbon that was in their bodies was locked up or sequestered for all that time. Now we bring the fuels to the surface and burn them, releasing that long-ago carbon to the atmosphere of today. Of course, that increases our atmospheric carbon dioxide.

The whole issue is more complicated than that, but that's a beginning.

Answer 5

I think it is nonsense. They have only been keeping temperature readings since the late 1800's. Approx. 1895. The earth's atmosphere is constantly changing that has been proven through geological digging. So, in an effort to shorten a very long explanation. Many of my associates feel it is bunk. I believe that Al Gore mean well but is mislead. Yes, I have researched both sides.

Answer 6

Extensive research.

Global warming is real and mostly caused by us. Three reasons, with solid support, most important first.

There's an overwhelming amount of peer reviewed scientific data that says that. Short and long summaries.

http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Climate_Change_Attribution.png

http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf

Science is quite good about exposing bad science or hoaxes:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/ATG/polywater.html

There's a large number of people who agree that it is, who are not liberals, environmentalists, stupid, or conceivably part of a "conspiracy". Just three examples of many:

"Global warming is real, now, and it must be addressed."

Lee Scott, CEO, Wal-Mart

"Our nation has both an obligation and self-interest in facing head-on the serious environmental, economic and national security threat posed by global warming."

Senator John McCain, Republican, Arizona

“DuPont believes that action is warranted, not further debate."

Charles O. Holliday, Jr., CEO, DuPont

There's a lot less controversy about this is the real world than there is on Yahoo answers:

http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/home_page/329.php?nid=&id=&pnt=329&lb=hmpg1

And vastly less controversy in the scientific community than you might guess from the few skeptics talked about here:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686

Website that answers arguments of skeptics:

http://info-pollution.com/warming.htm#WEB

Good website for more info:

http://www.realclimate.org

"climate science from climate scientists"

Answer 7

I want the world to end sometime in my lifetime so hopefully Al Gore is right.