Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post - Don't believe global warming is happening?

RIROCKHOUND · 02-16-2005, 02:19 PM

My 0.02

I think partisan politics aside oil/energy is keeping the US from signing, %$%$%$%$ officially declared it dead but WJC could have done more (higher MPG's etc) during his reign as well

As far as the science is concerned Sandman is on the right track in that the earth has gone through extreme cycles during the last 4600 Million years of the Earth's existence... During the Cretacous, which ended with the impact event that killed the Dino's 65Ma, there was a sea up the midwest known as the interior seaway, that means that we'd be surfcasting in Iowa or somewhere if we were there.. (Spence!)

More recently during the last glacial maximum (~25,000 years BP) sea level was 120m lower than today, so the shoreline was out on the shelf edge at the 360ft contour...

Previous work in the Holocene (the last 10,000yrs) showed a relativly quiet time climatically, however in recent years, studies have shown that many of the same phenominon that existed then and today are driven by things such as solar radiation cycles etc with cycles of 100's of years...

There is little evidence opposing the fact that global temperatures are increasing.. how much of that is human induced is still up for debate, however it may not be the intensity of the extremems that we are seeing today, but rather the increased rate these changes are occuring in, maybe this isnt that different to the past, but most evidence is suggesting that at the present change is happening faster than it should....

As they say, the present is the key to the past, but science is shifting towards looking at the processes that were present in previous warmer/colder periods, and how they would impact todays society, rather than just using previous times as a direct analog.....

Spence mentioned having a developed shoreline, and thats true, sea level rise and coastal erosion (which on the shorter term are unrelated which we can debate another time if you dont believe me) would not be a problem if we werent living there... As my advisor likes to say, the beach will always be there, probably just not where you want it to be...

To get back to Sandman's point that the earth will be fine, in the long term you are correct, we're the proverbial flea on the dogs back. whatever we F up on the planet will be negligable in the a few million years (unless we're still here)
You are right about volcanos releasing more gas (water vapor, CO2, Sulfur etc) than humans, but the impact this has on the overall climate system is generally short term (a few years) and generally cools the planet because of particles in the atmosphere.... our impact is sustained, specifically increasing inputs to the carbon cycle by burning carbon that was buried millions of years ago and re-releasing it to the atmosphere...

My take, having read a fair amount of literature on the likelyhood of global warming as well as studies on the geologic past, I think that we need to be prepared, not only to face extreme climate events but also to face some changes in the structure of our economy and industry as a country and as a planet... I'd point you towards Rifkin's Book "The Hydrogen Economy" for a good read.... Do I believe personally that the Earths climate is changing? Yes, 100% I belieive some change is going on... do I believe 100% that we have some impact? Yes... Do I beleive we are the only factor 100% Not yet, there is so much contradictory evidence, the more you read, the less your sure of... which is why this is such a sticky wicket...

Trying to combat global warming may not be possible either because we have done too much already or because it is a natural cycle, but I feel that it is an issue that should go beyond partisan bickering, and past the national level... there is a reason most major climate studies are done with multiple contries, (do a google search on IPCC) because this is a global problem, not a US, Japan, Russia etc.. problem....

(edit added after->) I think combat is the wrong word above, I think deal with, accept and live with global warming/climate change and the resultant impacts is what I really meant..

whew, that was a long rant, if you managed to read this far I appologize for ranting and raving... this was the first time in a while I;ve had to organize this stuff in my head, so it may have been a bit disjointed...

Bryan
Ranting and Raving Geologist....

02-16-2005, 02:19 PM	#20
RIROCKHOUND Also known as OAK iTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Westlery, RI Posts: 10,408	My 0.02 I think partisan politics aside oil/energy is keeping the US from signing, %$%$%$%$ officially declared it dead but WJC could have done more (higher MPG's etc) during his reign as well As far as the science is concerned Sandman is on the right track in that the earth has gone through extreme cycles during the last 4600 Million years of the Earth's existence... During the Cretacous, which ended with the impact event that killed the Dino's 65Ma, there was a sea up the midwest known as the interior seaway, that means that we'd be surfcasting in Iowa or somewhere if we were there.. (Spence!) More recently during the last glacial maximum (~25,000 years BP) sea level was 120m lower than today, so the shoreline was out on the shelf edge at the 360ft contour... Previous work in the Holocene (the last 10,000yrs) showed a relativly quiet time climatically, however in recent years, studies have shown that many of the same phenominon that existed then and today are driven by things such as solar radiation cycles etc with cycles of 100's of years... There is little evidence opposing the fact that global temperatures are increasing.. how much of that is human induced is still up for debate, however it may not be the intensity of the extremems that we are seeing today, but rather the increased rate these changes are occuring in, maybe this isnt that different to the past, but most evidence is suggesting that at the present change is happening faster than it should.... As they say, the present is the key to the past, but science is shifting towards looking at the processes that were present in previous warmer/colder periods, and how they would impact todays society, rather than just using previous times as a direct analog..... Spence mentioned having a developed shoreline, and thats true, sea level rise and coastal erosion (which on the shorter term are unrelated which we can debate another time if you dont believe me) would not be a problem if we werent living there... As my advisor likes to say, the beach will always be there, probably just not where you want it to be... To get back to Sandman's point that the earth will be fine, in the long term you are correct, we're the proverbial flea on the dogs back. whatever we F up on the planet will be negligable in the a few million years (unless we're still here) You are right about volcanos releasing more gas (water vapor, CO2, Sulfur etc) than humans, but the impact this has on the overall climate system is generally short term (a few years) and generally cools the planet because of particles in the atmosphere.... our impact is sustained, specifically increasing inputs to the carbon cycle by burning carbon that was buried millions of years ago and re-releasing it to the atmosphere... My take, having read a fair amount of literature on the likelyhood of global warming as well as studies on the geologic past, I think that we need to be prepared, not only to face extreme climate events but also to face some changes in the structure of our economy and industry as a country and as a planet... I'd point you towards Rifkin's Book "The Hydrogen Economy" for a good read.... Do I believe personally that the Earths climate is changing? Yes, 100% I belieive some change is going on... do I believe 100% that we have some impact? Yes... Do I beleive we are the only factor 100% Not yet, there is so much contradictory evidence, the more you read, the less your sure of... which is why this is such a sticky wicket... Trying to combat global warming may not be possible either because we have done too much already or because it is a natural cycle, but I feel that it is an issue that should go beyond partisan bickering, and past the national level... there is a reason most major climate studies are done with multiple contries, (do a google search on IPCC) because this is a global problem, not a US, Japan, Russia etc.. problem.... (edit added after->) I think combat is the wrong word above, I think deal with, accept and live with global warming/climate change and the resultant impacts is what I really meant.. whew, that was a long rant, if you managed to read this far I appologize for ranting and raving... this was the first time in a while I;ve had to organize this stuff in my head, so it may have been a bit disjointed... Bryan Ranting and Raving Geologist.... Last edited by RIROCKHOUND; 02-16-2005 at 02:40 PM..
	Bryan Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& "For once I agree with Spence. UGH. I just hope I don't get the urge to go start buying armani suits to wear in my shop"