Yes in the 1970s there was a period of global cooling. This was due to increased volcanic activity and human aerosol emissions blocking sunlight and creating a degree of global dimming, which led to a short-term global cooling.
Skeptics claim that all climate experts in the 1970s were predicting a new Ice Age and that there was "mass hysteria", etc. etc. This is simply untrue
"In the 1970s, there was a book in the popular press, a few articles in popular magazines, and a small amount of scientific speculation based on the recently discovered glacial cycles and the recent slight cooling trend from air pollution blocking the sunlight. There were no daily headlines. There was no avalanche of scientific articles. There were no United Nations treaties or commissions...You could find broader "consensus" on a coming alien invasion."
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/11/23/18534/222
So why do GW skeptics keep bringing up the 1970s cooling as evidence against global warming?
2007-06-04 07:10:16 · 9 answers · asked by Dana1981 7 in Environment ➔ Global Warming
Because they have no real arguments, so they clutch at anything they can get, no matter how bogus.
By the way, here's a better reference to the fact that "global cooling" was just a few guys with crazy theories, no good data, and no backing from the major scientific organizations. They most resemble today's global warming skeptics.
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=94
2007-06-04 10:00:41 · answer #1 · answered by Bob 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Wow! you mean that stuff was actually printed in something other than tabloids?
news to me, until now.
people should look at the facts, that the upper atmosphere, was and is still cooling.
at that time, that is what most scientists studying the atmosphere where concerned with, so it makes pretty good sense that they over-looked some details, like skeptics are doing now.
Don't get me wrong, i am skeptical of the causes of global warming, but i am not skeptical that the factors that are attributed to global warming are any less harmful to our environment than GW proponents claim.
2007-06-04 07:27:06 · answer #2 · answered by jj 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not evidence against global warming.
It's just an example of the fact that many of the groups presently pushing AGW as a reason to impose certain limits have pushed for those limits for countless other reasons, including, ironically, global cooling.
It goes to motive.
I am not skeptical about man-made global warming because of a brief period of cooling from the 1940s to the 1970s.
I am skeptical about man-made global warming because of several sustained, multi-century periods of near-equal, equal or greater warming when CO2 levels were lower and long before humans emitted CO2 by means other than breathing and farming.
Again, that doesn't mean it's not us this time - - it does mean that just because we're doing what we're doing doesn't mean you can infer that it's us this time.
And that inference is all there is.
2007-06-04 07:15:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
They don't look at the long term changes in temperature. It could be said for gloabla warming advocate. It's hard to judge global warming by a group of temperature reading, especially since most are done in CIties which would artificially show an increase since cities retain heat and generate heat. Thats why we need to look at other measures to determine global warming.
2007-06-04 07:17:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The skeptics have a point, is this a "notrmal" warming cycle, or caused by people?
There is not doubt in my mind that global warming exists. There is doubt whether we can do anything meaningful. Random rants to cut CO2 have no conclusive results. Do we need to move to a primative existance? If so, how can we survive without heat. Does the population need to be reduced first?
2007-06-04 07:22:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
As I watched the conclusions of the meetings in Cancun, I couldn't help but be embarrassed by Canada's performances,past and present. However on a positive note our newly appointed environment minister,has stopped blaming climate scientist and started blaming developing countries.
2016-05-21 02:20:21 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same scientists that were screaming "Ice Age" are the same ones screaming "Man Made Global Warming" scratch that; "Man Made Climate Change" now.
If they were wrong then, what makes you think they are right now?
2007-06-04 11:01:41 · answer #7 · answered by Christmas Light Guy 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
When ice melt, the temperature drops. The reason is while melting ice takes away the heat.
2007-06-04 07:17:54 · answer #8 · answered by Silent Water 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Why does it embarrass you? Is that a time you would like to shove under the rug?
2007-06-04 07:13:36 · answer #9 · answered by Opoohwan 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋