Let's Put the Global Warming Debate to Rest, Please!!
I'm all for thoughtful debate over controversial subjects such as global warming, but the opinions of a growing number of doubters as to the
legitimacy of this man made crisis epitomizes the ignorance and misinformed notions this group has on perhaps the most important
environmental issue in the world today.
Most do not understand the science behind global warming, nor do they even understand what they do not understand about the science of
global warming for that matter.
When someone argues that global warming does not exist because it does not feel warmer than it did in the past, they simply have no idea
what it is they are talking about. Pepper those statements with sound-bites from climate scientist speaking on the subject of the earth's
periodic changes in position relative to the sun, and therefore global warming being the result of nature and not us polluting humans, and
they really expose themselves as misguided, ill-informed sheeple who should perhaps decline comment and stop listening to those with
political, economic or fifteen-minutes-of-fame agendas.
Here are the facts. Sit in a car with the windows rolled up parked in the sun and you will begin to notice that the interior of the car becomes
much hotter than the outside air. This is because glass allows solar radiation (sunlight) in, while at the same time not allowing infrared
radiation, or heat, out.
Carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the burning of oil, natural gas and coal, acts in the same way. Carbon dioxide is important for life on earth as
long as the levels stay where Mother Nature intended them to be, at around .03 percent of the total atmosphere. This amount of Carbon
dioxide along with water vapor and ozone act as a type of blanket, or insulation and is necessary to keep us from freezing to death.
Problem is, and this is a proven and measurable fact, that over the past 100 years, atmospheric Carbon dioxide has increased about 15
percent so less heat escapes the earth. Throw in the fact that we have chopped down abut 50% of the forests on our planet, forests that
would have used hundreds of thousands of tons of that Carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and replaced it with oxygen, well then it is
hard to argue with the fact that man has contributed significantly to global warming.
"But it doesn't feel any hotter than in the past, the winters seem just as cold, maybe worse even", skeptics shout "Global warming is a sham!"
Well, the truth of the matter is that it most likely doesn't feel much different to you as the temperature has only risen a degree or so on global
average over this same time span; which is where a lot of people lose their minds on this whole Global warming debate.
A one degree shift in temperature is almost impossible for your body to detect. However, our world is burning proportionately more fossil
fuels each and every year and at the rate we are going, we could very realistically see another two or three degrees in warming over the next
century, and that is all it would take for a global meltdown of sorts. And this WILL happen if we continue to burn fossil fuels and put Carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere. The more Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the warmer it will get. Simple as that.
So what about the earth's periodic change in positioning relative to the sun and its effect on temperature, you may be asking yourself?
Well, once again, here are the facts. This "astronomical" theory is widely accepted and actually responsible for setting in motion past "ice
ages". We are, in fact, living between such times when a large surface of our planet was covered in ice sheets and temperatures were 11 to
12 degrees cooler than they are now.
Our fortunate timing has placed us in a 10,000 year "interglacial" period where we can enjoy more temperate weather, but that time will one
day run out due to the earth's ever changing orbit and position relative to the sun.
We are actually 7,000 years into this 10,000 year window and the next ice age is, at least in geological terms, right around the corner.
Due to a tilting, wobbling earth axis and an ever changing orbit around the sun from almost perfectly circular to highly elliptical, our great
planet is unavoidably placed farther away from the sun at certain times, greatly effecting the amount of solar radiation our earth receives and
therefore plunging us into 100,000 year long ice ages on a fairly consistent basis.
So, what about Global warming? Well, it is true that the earth goes through cycles so it would stand to reason that the earth does heat up
over time all on its own. However, this happens over thousands of years and never in earth's history has it happened faster than it has over
the past 100 years.
If we keep it up, we will raise the temperature enough to melt the polar ice caps. Which is already happening because of our positioning to
the sun anyway, but the rate of melt will increase dramatically by our own doing and change life on earth as we know it, several thousand
years before it's schedule to make life altering changes all on its own.
If (when) the ice caps melt, we risk rising sea levels which will destroy coastal cities, low lying islands and reek havoc on our weather systems
and ocean currents. Experts agree this would not be a good thing if it were to happen. And why take that chance?
Of course many researchers and scientist on each side of this debate will abuse their position and succumb to monetary gain and cloud the
facts with misinformation and scare tactics.
We are going to pay out our noses no matter which side of the fence you are on, it's just the way corrupt government works, and making your
argument that Global warming is not happening because you do not trust the politicians or scientists out trying to make a buck on research
grants, is going to leave you on pretty shaky ground in any thoughtful debate, or possibly under water if you live near the coastline!