Post by Swamp Gas on May 30, 2007 13:37:33 GMT -5
environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn11462
Climate change: A guide for the perplexed
17:00 16 May 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Michael Le Page
Our planet's climate is anything but simple. All kinds of factors influence it, from massive events on the Sun to the growth of microscopic creatures in the oceans, and there are subtle interactions between many of these factors.
Yet despite all the complexities, a firm and ever-growing body of evidence points to a clear picture: the world is warming, this warming is due to human activity increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and if emissions continue unabated the warming will too, with increasingly serious consequences.
Yes, there are still big uncertainties in some predictions, but these swing both ways. For example, the response of clouds could slow the warming or speed it up.
With so much at stake, it is right that climate science is subjected to the most intense scrutiny. What does not help is for the real issues to be muddied by discredited arguments or wild theories.
So for those who are not sure what to believe, here is our round-up of the 26 most common climate myths and misconceptions.
There is also a guide to assessing the evidence. In the articles we've included lots of links to primary research and major reports for those who want to follow through to the original sources.
Human CO2 emissions are too tiny to matter
We can't do anything about climate change
The 'hockey stick' graph has been proven wrong
Chaotic systems are not predictable
We can't trust computer models of climate
They predicted global cooling in the 1970s
It's been far warmer in the past, what's the big deal?
It's too cold where I live - warming will be great
Global warming is down to the Sun, not humans
It’s all down to cosmic rays
CO2 isn't the most important greenhouse gas
The lower atmosphere is cooling, not warming
Antarctica is getting cooler, not warmer, disproving global warming
The oceans are cooling
The cooling after 1940 shows CO2 does not cause warming
It was warmer during the Medieval period, with vineyards in England
We are simply recovering from the Little Ice Age
Warming will cause an ice age in Europe
Ice cores show CO2 increases lag behind temperature rises, disproving the link to global warming
Ice cores show CO2 rising as temperatures fell
Mars and Pluto are warming too
Many leading scientists question climate change
It's all a conspiracy
Hurricane Katrina was caused by global warming
Higher CO2 levels will boost plant growth and food production
Polar bear numbers are increasing
Climate change: A guide for the perplexed
17:00 16 May 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Michael Le Page
Our planet's climate is anything but simple. All kinds of factors influence it, from massive events on the Sun to the growth of microscopic creatures in the oceans, and there are subtle interactions between many of these factors.
Yet despite all the complexities, a firm and ever-growing body of evidence points to a clear picture: the world is warming, this warming is due to human activity increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and if emissions continue unabated the warming will too, with increasingly serious consequences.
Yes, there are still big uncertainties in some predictions, but these swing both ways. For example, the response of clouds could slow the warming or speed it up.
With so much at stake, it is right that climate science is subjected to the most intense scrutiny. What does not help is for the real issues to be muddied by discredited arguments or wild theories.
So for those who are not sure what to believe, here is our round-up of the 26 most common climate myths and misconceptions.
There is also a guide to assessing the evidence. In the articles we've included lots of links to primary research and major reports for those who want to follow through to the original sources.
Human CO2 emissions are too tiny to matter
We can't do anything about climate change
The 'hockey stick' graph has been proven wrong
Chaotic systems are not predictable
We can't trust computer models of climate
They predicted global cooling in the 1970s
It's been far warmer in the past, what's the big deal?
It's too cold where I live - warming will be great
Global warming is down to the Sun, not humans
It’s all down to cosmic rays
CO2 isn't the most important greenhouse gas
The lower atmosphere is cooling, not warming
Antarctica is getting cooler, not warmer, disproving global warming
The oceans are cooling
The cooling after 1940 shows CO2 does not cause warming
It was warmer during the Medieval period, with vineyards in England
We are simply recovering from the Little Ice Age
Warming will cause an ice age in Europe
Ice cores show CO2 increases lag behind temperature rises, disproving the link to global warming
Ice cores show CO2 rising as temperatures fell
Mars and Pluto are warming too
Many leading scientists question climate change
It's all a conspiracy
Hurricane Katrina was caused by global warming
Higher CO2 levels will boost plant growth and food production
Polar bear numbers are increasing