Just about 30 years ago our worry was global cooling - remember? And now it's global warming we're upset about

Question

Global cooling:
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/india.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_cooling
As for global warming, look at this site (not a blog or someone's soapbox forum):
http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=12455&tid=282&cid=9986

Yes, man needs to stop many of his destructive ways on this planet but when are people going to realize that most of any change is the result of planetary changes and cycles? Hey, do you think our CO2 emmisions caused the last ice age to end? No, it was just part of the earth's cycles.

Answer 1

If you look at your own links then you've answered your own question.

The first link is to a list of Indian newspapers, don't know what the significance of that is.

The second link is to a Wikipedia article about global cooling; the opening sentence of which reads "the theory (of global cooling) never had significant scientific support, but gained temporary popular attention due to press reporting".

The third link is to an article written by Bob Gagosian. Whilst he may be an expert in his particular field he isn't a climatologist, he's an oceanographer. There is an overlap between the disciplines but they are inherently different. Your reasoning is along the same lines as seeking medical advice from a vet or dentist when you're poorly.

Planetary changes and cycles are well and truly documented and we know what brought about the end of the last ice age (which isn't actually correct as we're still in an ice age, you're referring to the most recent glacial retreat).

The end of the last 'ice age' was brought about by a comparatively slow rise in global temperatures (7 degrees Celsius over 7,500 years). At current rates we'll acheive the same rise in temperatures in just 448 years.

No known cycle in the history of our planet has caused temperatures to rise as fast as they are now, or to even come close.

Answer 2

There was no global cooling scare in the 70's. You pseudo-skeptics have made the whole thing up. I have yet to find a single person who wasn't trying to disprove GW theory who even remembers anything =about= global cooling in the 70's. There was an article in NG and Newsweek about it. That's it. No nationwide controversy, no pundits who made it their life's work to spread disinformation about it, no scare.


This is, of course, aside from the fact that from the 40's through the late 70's there actually =was= a cooling trend, now known to have been caused by pollution from aerosol sprays and other particulates, as well as some natural variability, that had a handful of scientists concerned that, if emissions of these pollutants weren't monitored (they have been, which is why the cooling trend ended in the 70's), the cooling trend might continue. But the idea never gained anything like the attention global warming theory has.

Answer 3

because of the fact climate patters are cyclical, approximately 30 years in the past, many climatologists believed that a clean ice age might hit the planet. This end grow to be drawn from a learn of international climate varieties as provided by fossils, etc. actual climate differences take time, and in 30 years that's purely not a danger to disprove that a clean ice age will possibly not ultimately come. for a similar reason, those people who declare worldwide warming may be catastrophic very quickly might desire to be seen skeptically. for instance, Al Gore isn't by any means an "expert" in any environmental concerns, yet many human beings cope with him as one.

Answer 4

yup... its nice to hear there are some UNBIASED people out there!
Or at least those who are not quick to pull the trigger....
Global warming can warm up the planet.
The question is pollution from Man causing it to speed up? Methane gas is also a green house gas, and well... certainly we are responsible for most of the cattle out there... but didn't we slaughter some 8 million bison buffalo to make room for our cattle herds?....
Solar storms have been bombarding the Earth for the last 15-18 years. Prior to this... in the 1970's there was fewer solar flares... hence the drop in Global temps! hmmmm..... could it just be the sun?
volcanos?


All in all, lets focus on more important issues, such as reducing toxins, pollutants that harm our bodies... and lets not worry and not spend so much money on finding out how the earth's temps are increasing!?

Answer 5

"Global cooling" was never a strong consensus.

In fact the global cooling advocates were much like the global warming skeptics of today. Few in number, with no good data, and with no backing from any major scientific organization.

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=94

Global warming is VERY different.

99+% of scientists around the world believe global warming is real and mostly caused by us. And any number of very distinguished people, too. They are backed by virtually every major scientific organization.

"I wasn’t convinced by a person or any interest group—it was the data that got me. I was utterly convinced of this connection between the burning of fossil fuels and climate change. And I was convinced that if we didn’t do something about this, we would be in deep trouble.”

Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly, USN (Ret.)
Former NASA Administrator, Shuttle Astronaut and the first Commander of the Naval Space Command

Here are two summaries of the mountain of data that convinced Admiral Truly, short and long.

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

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

"There's a better scientific consensus on this [climate change] than on any issue I know - except maybe Newton's second law of dynamics. Global warming is almost a no-brainer at this point,You really can't find intelligent, quantitative arguments to make it go away."

Jerry Mahlman, NOAA

Good websites for more info:

http://profend.com/global-warming/

http://www.realclimate.org

"climate science from climate scientists"

Answer 6

I've watched documentaries for both arguments and have t admit I am very confused. It also worries me that it is very politically incorrect to challenge the theory of global warming. Personally I haven't noticed huge differences in climate change that can't be explained by natural cycles. But like you I feel we should do everything in our power to reduce our consumption for many reasons outside of global warming.

Answer 7

If global warming gets people to be more environmental friendly, I'll promote CO2 is its cause.
If not, it's a natural phenomenon.
No truth stands in the way of my clean air!

Answer 8

Even if you throw out the concerns of global warming what harm would it cause to reduce waste and oil usage. If nothing else cutting down on your energy usage and gas consumption would give you some extra money.

Answer 9

From your own link:
"This theory [global cooling] never had significant scientific support"

From your own link:
"greenhouse warming is a destabilizing factor that makes abrupt climate change more probable."

You really ought to read what's in the links you post before you post them. Maybe then you wouldn't look like such a loser.

Answer 10

I don't remember that.