There is only one “global warming zealot” in this thread and he rabidly protests against the mere mention of the phenomenon and the potential for a human component of the process or reduction of its rate.
One thing I observed in a museum was the wide swings of temperature over the last 600,000 years. Warm periods have occurred at intervals of 200,000 years and we are in one now. No one can explain this. Over my adult lifetime I have been told to prepare for an ice age and are now being warned of global warming.
My ambitions are much more limited. I just wish they would get tomorrow’s weather forecast right. The development of Quantum Computers yet unheralded, might help.
As it was described to me using a conventional computer to observe a chemical reaction is a bit like blowing up a photo to the point where all you can see is the pixels whereas the Quantum Computer will be able analyse the reaction.
It is rapid warming in a relatively short period of time that is the worry.
The difference between what has happened in the last century and in the 200K year cycle is the problem.
Especially the rapid warming since 1960, coinciding with the rapid increase in fossile fuel.
Anybody have another explanation that is acceptable, even to Jughead?
You have absolutely no proof that any warming is caused by humans nor do you have any proof that any actions by humans will limit in any way what the climate (note: not just temperature) does in the future. Can’t be done.
An answer in fractions of degrees is an answer in degrees, believe it or not. You refuse to answer either.
No. That’s the wrong question. The right question is to tell us all how much of that warming was natural and how much was not. Warming is an unequivocal good for humanity. Warm periods in history were times of prosperity. Cold periods, the opposite. Stop being terrified of warmth.
Any time you like to tell us all what the human component is, feel free to justify your case.
I concur wholeheartedly. But our zealots try to blame humans for what’s happening now, when it has happened before without humans. Why the change? They can’t explain past rapid warming periods.
The explanation is simple. Climate changes naturally. We aren’t in charge.
Perhaps a bit of levity is needed here. Several years ago when I was still working on the coal fired ro/ro passenger ferry SS Badger, i saw a Prius drive off the ferry. She had a bumper sticker which said “save the planet, tax carbon”. She must have figured we would sail anyway and she was saving on gas by taking the ferry. Which burns 50 tons of coal a day.