How Much Snow is Required in the US and Canada Before Global Warming is Declared Over?

Question

With unpresidented levels of snow being dumped in the USA and Canada this winter, how much more wind, cold, and snow is reguired before we say global warming is over, and the globe is cooling down?

Answer 1

I do not know but all I can say is so much for Al Gore's 80 degree winters.

Answer 2

Global warming will be over when the northern extremes have
enough snow to last all the way through summer without melting. When that happens you will see the true definition of a tipping point play out before your very eyes. The more snow you have the higher albedo coefficient you have, the higher albedo coefficient you have the less energy Earth's climate receives from the sun. Snow is a negative feedback mechanism.

Answer 3

Global warming is not demonstrated by any single instance of weather, such as the snow fall you're referring to. Rather, we track global warming by looking at average global temperature. So just as no one can blame Katrina on global warming, no one can say that cold temperatures at location X on day Y means that global warming doesn't exist. Global warming predicts some counter intuitive changes such as some areas of the world becoming colder as warm ocean currents are disrupted and increased snow in cold parts of the country due to increased moisture in the air. Even then, we can't say for certain how a specific area will be affected because there are so many variables affecting local weather. But the models are good enough and constantly improving. New research reported in the latest IPCC report shows increased confidence amongst scientists in regards to the models and their predictions.

So the short answer to your question:
What *matters* when examining the question of global warming are trends over time such as the world's average increasing temperature, such as the melting of the ice caps, etc, not individual meteorological events.

Answer 4

Amazing. Not only has the right-wing decided to disbelieve the science of evolution and global warming (and, in another thread, the science of Continental drift), now they are claiming that meteorology is a fraud. Why do right wingers hate education and knowledge so much.

Here's a clue. Snow is not equivalent to temperature. When it gets really cold, snowflakes cannot form, or those that do, and tiny ice particles. To get big fluffy snowflakes and heavy snowfall, you need to have warmer weather, close to the freezing point (32 degrees Fahrenheit for you Republicans who may not remember that). In addition, warmer weather picks up more moisture. To get really heavy snow, you need warm moist air hitting a cold front. Global warming will actually increase snowfall in some places, and diminish it in others. Note the drought in the southwest US? Not the extra precipitation in the northern 2/3rds of the country?

And of course, snow in December is not that uncommon. At least it wasn't 10 years ago.

Answer 5

If you think Global Warming means a Winter tan and palm trees in Minnisota you need to read up on Global Warming.

Global warming isn't about snow levels. It's about the disruption of our "normal" climate patterns. You may be getting more snow now, but the overall temperature of the planet is rising faster than "normal." Climate scientists have said form the beginning thast it's not all heat, but that whatever weather you are getting you can expect more of it. Hotter heat, colder cold, fiercer storms, etc etc etc. Meanwhile the OVERALL tmepreature of the planet is rising causing glaciers to melt and ocean temperatures to change and rise.

"Normal" means that while we do go through ice ages etc, they move at a predictable pace. We have increased that pace and our populaiton to where we are putting ourselves in danger. To say that global warming is 'natural" is like a smoker saying, "Well something's gotta kill me." THat's right, but let's not do it to ourselves, OK?

Answer 6

Maybe when the next Ice Age comes.
Though then those glaciers floating all over the globe would melt as well; proving that global warming still exists... quite a predicament

Answer 7

That wont matter. Global Warming affects all weather conditions. Heat and cold. And Global Warming will only end when people use common sense and stop littering and polluting the air and sea. So really no matter how cold it is because of the ozone hole ultra violet radiation will still reach the Artic.

Answer 8

umm you do know that Global warming does not mean the end of snow?
It does mean more severe storms

Also what about the unprecedented drought in the south east? As well as the extremely hot summer we had in the south west?

read up on you might be surprised what you will find

Answer 9

Global Warming isn't just about heat - it manifests itself in extremes of both heat and cold.

Answer 10

I have been waiting for this moment....
"May I have your attention please, I , Andy J, at this moment in time December 17, 2007 by the power granted me do delare the psychological climate crisis previous reffered to as 'GLOBAL WARMING' to cease and desist for eternity."