Global Warming... Truth Or Lie.

[Mitch]

Global Warming is still a controversy, even after years and years of research and debate.
There is plenty of factual evidence out there that proves global warming exists and some that disproves global warming's existence.

I believe that global warming is a world crisis and IS man made. Carbon dioxide, water, methane, etc. from the pollution we produce from cars and industry.
An Inconvenient Truth (if you haven't heard of it... :P) has everything you need to know about global warming and its effects. We can even see global warming in the slew of natural disasters that have occurred in the past couple years. New Orleans, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Tornadoes, the list goes on.

[domainer50]

Global warming is most definitely a man made problem. Fuel emissions are causing the o-zone to break down, increasing co2 levels which in turn cause global warming. I believe that if the country switches to alternative fuel we will be better off.

[Mitch]

Though you agree with me and me with you, let me straighten out your facts.
Global Warming is causing the depletion of the ozone, that has more or less been solved by the ban of CFCs, the cause of ozone depletion.

[Ed Jones]

Though to be fair it was bound to happen naturally after chilli night in Ed's house. :cool:

[Keramac]

I am not sure what to think about Global Warming. It seems plausible, but I remain skeptical. It just seems that predicting the temperature of future decades is a very fuzzy area of study. I think that actions should be taken against Global Warming, but nothing too drastic. We still need more evidence to be proclaiming that the sky is falling.

[MM357]

I think it is a reality that we should face .. In my hometown for example our climate used to be slightly cold in winter .. now it is not like that it rains but temperature doesn't go to lower than 12 in the most cold night in Cairo.

Mother says that someday when she was young they were playing with snow.. now we never see snow. even in the coldest places in Egypt.

Countries like My Country are the ones that participate most in making the crisis worse and worse. But I can't say that people are to blame, they are working for food [most of our people are suffering poverty ] so you can't say to them : please don't pollute the environment .. we need money to eat then we need clothes and then homes and then safety [which is not found here in Egypt], then we can think in the Environment.

This is my opinion.

[Mitch]

WOW! You can sure see Global Warming to the extreme in Egypt! No snow? How can you live without it?! :p :D
It is quite noticeable in North America as well. The summers are getting much hotter and the winters much colder (winters are colder when summers are hotter, I have to do some research on that). We have problems with animals, such as bears, hibernating late and waking up early and they get very mad for that reason.

[Cattraknoff]

One thing to note is that that global warming at its current rate could be explained by a combination of the sun putting off more energy in recent years and the weakening of the earth's magnetic field (this happens before the magnetic poles shift, and it is LONG overdue ). CO2 isn't the only possible explanation; Just something to consider. Also remember that all the doomsday scenarios about global warming give governments more reasons to tax people even more, and start charging more money for things. Note it's highly unlikely that we will stop emitting CO2, or reduce it enough to stop its current trend. If it is indeed the cause, there is little we can do, because of our freely capitalist systems.

[Keramac]

Well, the IPCC has looked at a vast number of studies and has come to the decision that global warming is happening and an anthropogenic cause is about 90% likely. They did take the idea of solar warming and found that it has caused some warming, but the era of intense solar flares causing a significant rise in temperature ended about 20 years ago. In other words, the sun was helping climate change along, but once it stopped we continued to warm. That sounds like there are a combination of factors. Anyways, what we need to do is to try to curb CO2, without destroying our economy or way of life. It is fairly simple to cut down on greenhouse gases without turning your life upside down.

[Cattraknoff]

Well, the IPCC has looked at a vast number of studies and has come to the decision that global warming is happening and an anthropogenic cause is about 90% likely. They did take the idea of solar warming and found that it has caused some warming, but the era of intense solar flares causing a significant rise in temperature ended about 20 years ago. In other words, the sun was helping climate change along, but once it stopped we continued to warm. That sounds like there are a combination of factors. Anyways, what we need to do is to try to curb CO2, without destroying our economy or way of life. It is fairly simple to cut down on greenhouse gases without turning your life upside down.

What doesn't make sense to me, is that apparently without CO2, global temps would be around -20 degrees Celsius (average). While with them at "normal levels" we get around +15. Then, a 50% increase above normal levels, is only causing a temperature change of around 1-2 degrees.

I see global warming as a way to cripple developing countries. We get them to sign treaties in hopes of saving the world, setting hard limits for their industries, preventing them from changing their position as 3rd world countries. This is made worse by us supposedly helping them by giving them cheap food, etc, crippling agriculture in their own lands. Also, while the developed world can perhaps lower CO2 emissions, using wind, solar, nuclear power, etc. However we are seemingly unwilling to help developing nations acquire technology for any of this.

This ensures that we can continue exploiting them for cheap labor, resources, etc; While they can continue to oppress their people, preventing them from ever becoming a threat to our growing capitalist regime.

[Locke]

Even without definite proof, there's no question we can't keep living the way we are.
If the current increase in global temperature is not attributed to human activity, there is no reason to be inactive about global warming. Our filthy emissions will eventually entirely pollute the Earth. Even if not in the short span of time predicted by researchers and analysts, there is no uncertainty to the fact that it is impossible to sustain. If not 20 years, then it will still be 50, or 100, or more! But what we can do is prevent it from ever happening, simply by using available techologies and doing away with selfishness at this epoch in history.
What we have is an extreme abundance of short-sightedness and greed. Capitalism, if reforms are not taken, will be its own downfall; it cannot run on a depleted earth and a biosystem incapable of sustaining life.

[Prometheus]

Global warming may be real, sure. Thankfully the Earth has ways of regulating itself. CO2 could possibly warm the Earth, and thus creates extra water vapor. Water vapor is known to block massive amounts of heat from being absorbed into the Earth, thus cooling it. That's why CO2 levels as well as hot and cold periods tend to bounce up and down (as told by the almighty ice cores). Unfortunately the CO2 bounce and the hot/cold bounce have no relation to each other.

Sure, I'm all about preservation of the environment and crap like that too. It's just that Catt is right. The whole scare is about controlling the people, and saving the "elite class", not about saving humanity.

Just pay attention, every decade or two, maybe three, it's a new scare. Be it the environment, disease outbreaks, over population (which I believe was the last one), what ever. Next it'll probably be something seemingly stupid now, like space alien invasion. Even ancient cultures did it, with religion. Which is why some call environmental maniacs, religious extremists. Kind of the same thing.

EDIT - Oh, and I agree Locke. I do like the idea of alternative energy sources. There is a theory that oil is not an organic bi-product, but is actually created in the Earth. This isn't my belief (though I am still open minded), and is highly debatable, but that would be great. Unfortunately we can't take the risk, so alternative is the way to go.

[Syngenetic]

LIE. Earth does this automatically. It happened before and now is doing it again. It has its own way of heating and cooling things.

[ShadyPolitics]

I don't have a problem with suffocating on my own vomits in an endless desert if no one else does. Whether global warming is real or just a myth, its time for humans to inconvenience themselves and preserve our environment. I am not referring to the common citizens, but the energy and technology cooperations should be regulated and they should willing take precautions when it comes to our environment.

[Cookies]

I don't think Global Warming is in effect because of the humans. I believe the Earth's periodical pattern of climate change that's happening. I don't think humans contributed to global warming.

[Mitch]

Syngenetic: I don't think you have your political lean right... Anyhoo, even if this is the earth's natural course, what about all the other pollutants in the air, sulfur dioxide, etc.
This stuff can kill!
How are you supporting this thesis? I support mine by looking outside!

Global Warming happens when the atmosphere heats up, from the rays of the sun unable to escape. CO2 and H2O makes rays from the sun stay in our atmosphere for a long period of time. So... If you have more CO2 and H2O (the products of burning any fossil fuel), the rays from the sun will stay in our atmosphere for a longer period of time and quickly heat up the earth.

[eharvester]

I don't care if it's true, I don't think government involvement is the correct approach. I mean, if we start to disrespect property rights, we might as well become a police state tomorrow. SUE YOUR NEIGHBOR!

[Cattraknoff]

Syngenetic: I don't think you have your political lean right... Anyhoo, even if this is the earth's natural course, what about all the other pollutants in the air, sulfur dioxide, etc.
This stuff can kill!
How are you supporting this thesis? I support mine by looking outside!

Global Warming happens when the atmosphere heats up, from the rays of the sun unable to escape. CO2 and H2O makes rays from the sun stay in our atmosphere for a long period of time. So... If you have more CO2 and H2O (the products of burning any fossil fuel), the rays from the sun will stay in our atmosphere for a longer period of time and quickly heat up the earth.

H2O also deflects sunlight, thus canceling the effects, quite rapidly at that (inside of a day or two, if I'm not mistaken).

[Gwendl]

Whether global warming is true or not, what concerns me is that the solutions that people have can be more dangerous than the problem. Take for instance, Al Gore's great flourescent lights. These things are filled with mercury. And I'm sure everybody has broken a light bulb at least once in their life. Thus the bulb can be more dangerous than the global warming. We have to be smart about what can be done, not panicked at anything that will fix what may not even be broken.

[Cattraknoff]

Whether global warming is true or not, what concerns me is that the solutions that people have can be more dangerous than the problem. Take for instance, Al Gore's great flourescent lights. These things are filled with mercury. And I'm sure everybody has broken a light bulb at least once in their life. Thus the bulb can be more dangerous than the global warming. We have to be smart about what can be done, not panicked at anything that will fix what may not even be broken.

Mercury causes the deterioration of the brain. This is obviously a government conspiracy aimed at making the population stupid. Little do they know that they don't need to bother doing so, as most are anyway, so the joke is on them. Ha!

But yes, Gore doesn't care about the environment. He cares about his fame, he cares about his own wallet, and his own power (which results from the two).

[Locke]

Syngenetic: I don't think you have your political lean right
An alternate environmental belief isn't necessarily commensurate with one's political leanings.

There are some strikes against global warming, most notably the double trapping/reflection effect of H2O. There is no denying however that we have a part in it, as our net emission are approximately 6 gigatons in atmospheric CO2 annually.

[brookes]

I believe global warming is a truth, Hard truth. The reason is none other than we humans. Every day we are using so much of petrol/diesel/gas that man never used that much in centuries. We are also cutting forests. All this will show a very bad effect on our planet.

[Coll]

I'll stop using gas as soon as Al Gore decommissions all of his planes/cars/ships/book printings.

[roflwaffle]

I think that yes, our environment is getting bad but I think that it all being blown out of proportion. If you look at history, the temperature is always fluctuating. But, yes I do understand that the carbon dioxide levels have increased and that it will be warmer but who says the temperature won't drop again. Thats what it has done throughout history.

[bigdoglj52]

I agree that global warming is a seirous issue and needs to be taken care of. Every country in the world has to meet and come to a logical solutioin that all of them will follow to reduce it and hopefully undo it.

[Mitch]

I think that yes, our environment is getting bad but I think that it all being blown out of proportion. If you look at history, the temperature is always fluctuating. But, yes I do understand that the carbon dioxide levels have increased and that it will be warmer but who says the temperature won't drop again. Thats what it has done throughout history.
Yes, that has happened throughout history, but not to this extent. Our CO2 emissions are over the top and an increase in CO2 and H2O in the air will increase the heat in the atmosphere, elementary my dear friend.
A decrease in temperature to this extreme happened... well... the last Ice Age. So be ready for the earth to get a little chilly and say bye bye to Florida.

[Cattraknoff]

Yes, that has happened throughout history, but not to this extent. Our CO2 emissions are over the top and an increase in CO2 and H2O in the air will increase the heat in the atmosphere, elementary my dear friend.
A decrease in temperature to this extreme happened... well... the last Ice Age. So be ready for the earth to get a little chilly and say bye bye to Florida.

The H2O in the air will also deflect sunlight.

The primary thing effecting the Earth's temperature changes is the amount of sunlight reaching the earth, which has sometimes been changed by cloud cover (or a certain meteor impact that killed dinosaurs) and most often been changed by the energy output of the sun itself. Yes, the amount of light energy emitted by the sun fluctuates over time. I think there's at least a reasonable chance that the independent and dependent variables in Al Gore's famous graph might have been mixed up. Why is it that a 50-60% increase in CO2 levels over the norm has only increased global temperatures by 1-2 degrees? Scientists have said that without CO2, our planet would be around 20-30 degrees Celsius colder. Current levels make a massive impact, but a 50% increase matters just enough to give us a reason to shut down the industrial development of many developing nations.

[lihen]

Definately global warming exists
And now it has even started to stretch it's wings and the effect is now clear...
then there is no place for a debate that it exists or not

[Locke]

There is, however, place for debate upon whether it is important to take action or not. I find myself on the supporting side of the cause; however, for the sake of the debate itself, there is no reason to stop now.

[online.education]

The H2O in the air will also deflect sunlight.

The primary thing effecting the Earth's temperature changes is the amount of sunlight reaching the earth, which has sometimes been changed by cloud cover (or a certain meteor impact that killed dinosaurs) and most often been changed by the energy output of the sun itself. Yes, the amount of light energy emitted by the sun fluctuates over time. I think there's at least a reasonable chance that the independent and dependent variables in Al Gore's famous graph might have been mixed up. Why is it that a 50-60% increase in CO2 levels over the norm has only increased global temperatures by 1-2 degrees? Scientists have said that without CO2, our planet would be around 20-30 degrees Celsius colder. Current levels make a massive impact, but a 50% increase matters just enough to give us a reason to shut down the industrial development of many developing nations.

There is a correlation between the temperature rise and the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

This is an issue that is often misunderstood in the public sphere and media, so it is worth spending some time to explain it and clarify it. At least three careful ice core studies have shown that CO2 starts to rise about 800 years (600-1000 years) after Antarctic temperature during glacial terminations. These terminations are pronounced warming periods that mark the ends of the ice ages that happen every 100,000 years or so.

Does this prove that CO2 doesn't cause global warming? The answer is no.

The reason has to do with the fact that the warmings take about 5000 years to be complete. The lag is only 800 years. All that the lag shows is that CO2 did not cause the first 800 years of warming, out of the 5000 year trend. The other 4200 years of warming could in fact have been caused by CO2, as far as we can tell from this ice core data.

The 4200 years of warming make up about 5/6 of the total warming. So CO2 could have caused the last 5/6 of the warming, but could not have caused the first 1/6 of the warming.

...

[octoparrot]

the climet has been and always will be changing. evan at the rate now.

[Locke]

the climet has been and always will be changing. evan at the rate now.

There have long periods of stasis. A rise of a few degrees in the global average temperature, concurrent with the rise of human industrial activity, should not simply be cast aside as an object of useless study. There is considerable credence to the theory of global warming as attributed to humanity.

[Cattraknoff]

There have long periods of stasis. A rise of a few degrees in the global average temperature, concurrent with the rise of human industrial activity, should not simply be cast aside as an object of useless study. There is considerable credence to the theory of global warming as attributed to humanity.

Oddly enough, an increase in solar activity also coincides with this rise. I find it far more likely that the sun is influencing the temperature than an extremely slight increase in CO2 emissions. This of course taking into account that humans are only responsible for a very small percentage of total CO2 emissions globally (a few percent or less).