Here in England the past couple of winters have been very mild. I was wondering if we may be going through something similar to the medieval warming period. Can anybody remember winters mild as this? Or alternatively this is an ongoing trend due to the effects of global warming. I mean the earths temperature has been known to rise. Do you think this also could be due to increased solar activity? What do ppl think?
2007-12-01 02:30:06 · 15 answers · asked by Robyn in the Hoode 2 in Environment ➔ Global Warming
Climate has never been static on this planet. Temperatures rise, temperatures fall. We adapt or die.
As my 8 year-old says, "No big whoop".
2007-12-01 04:32:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle that is not related to climate change. During the past 5 years solar irradiance has been decreasing, as part of that cycle. If we remove the 11-year cycle, the Sun has shown no long-term trend since satellite observations began in 1978.
Increased CO2 in the atmosphere is responsible for the long-term trend in increasing temperatures. An increased greenhouse effect should increase nighttime temperatures faster than daytime temperatures. Since there is more nighttime during the winter months, winter temperatures should be most affected by global warming. While the weather of any given year cannot be ascribed to any one factor, I wouldn't go out and buy a snowmobile any time soon.
2007-12-01 12:11:05 · answer #2 · answered by Keith P 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Global Warming
2007-12-01 14:24:41 · answer #3 · answered by The Lost Elf 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It is just a natural cycle of life. There was an ice age or ages weren't there and there were no factories, transport, etc to contribute to global warming so what happened. I think we just to have to accept that no matter what we do, nature will take its course.
2007-12-01 23:47:11 · answer #4 · answered by Ange 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I can see how people think this could be a natural trend, but not only have there been the milder winters, there have been crazy floods in June & far more natural disasters like tsunamis.
Its hard to know for sure but I think this is mother nature telling us something. Like screw you thanks for messing up my earth (which we are tenants of not owners of).
I think we all have a duty to ensure this doesnt get any worse, though it is too late to stop it.
I know a lot of people thinking recycling, saving energy and water are daft but surely its good to recycle if not to save the earth, but to prevent landfill sites from becoming full?
2007-12-01 10:36:43 · answer #5 · answered by loudpurplehair 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I like my Ford Explorer. It is big and comfortable, and if I get in a wreck, all the Hybrids, volvos, and VWs don't stand a chance against it.
Seriously, the earth warms and cools in cycles. Global warming is just a religion that people believe in because they can't come up with anything logical, and so they just blame this big general "global warming" issue. I think that mostly it is a joke. Sorry for all of the left wing extremists out there.
Tell Forrest GORE to be quiet for a spell!
2007-12-01 11:06:38 · answer #6 · answered by Riley 2 · 6⤊ 4⤋
partly due to solar activity, we are ina solar minimum at the moment, have you seen the amount of snow there is in other parts of the world at the moment? Check out http://www.iceagenow.com
2007-12-04 16:06:32 · answer #7 · answered by willow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As I recall the effect from climate change should be largest in winter and at night (and at the high northern latitudes). This is largely due to the water vapor (add that superfluous "u" there as needed you brits and brit wannabes) feedback. That said one really cannot look at one or two years and say "That is due to global warming" as much as our need for evidence tries to force our hand.
BTW, Bob good job with the links and such. You're an asset here.
Also, the idea that SUVs are safer is a myth.
2007-12-01 11:40:42 · answer #8 · answered by Ken M 2 · 4⤊ 4⤋
The past couple of winters proves little. In order to understand global warming you need to understand two things.
The weather jumps around a lot, year to year. And the upward trend in temperature, long term, is undeniable (and, in fact is not denied by any scientists, even the "skeptics"). This graph shows both things:
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs/Fig.A2.lrg.gif
Warming happened in the past when the Sun changed it's intensity of radiation. But we measure the Sun, and that's not what's happening now. Proof:
"Recent oppositely directed trends in solar
climate forcings and the global mean surface
air temperature", Lockwood and Frolich (2007), Proc. R. Soc. A
doi:10.1098/rspa.2007.1880
http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/media/proceedings_a/rspa20071880.pdf
News article at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6290228.stm
So, no one can say much about the last couple of winters. But, over the long run, your winters will get milder, on average.
Really good website for more scientific facts (not the unsupported opinions you see here):
http://profend.com/global-warming/
LAWRENCE - This change is big and fast enough that simply adapting will be both very difficult and hugely expensive. The proper balance between reduction of global warming and adaptation is a worthy subject for debate. But the answer is clearly not 100% for adaptation.
2007-12-01 11:10:16 · answer #9 · answered by Bob 7 · 3⤊ 6⤋
Personally I think its a natural cycle of the earth and too much is made of global warming.
2007-12-01 10:47:37 · answer #10 · answered by billybags 4 · 5⤊ 3⤋
Natural cycle exacerbated by human activity,,the Earth has had many thousands of warm and cooler periods,,,
2007-12-01 10:34:27 · answer #11 · answered by McCanns are guilty 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋