Climate change sceptics bet $10,000 on cooler world

The Guardian ^ | Friday August 19, 2005 | David Adam

[satchmodog9]

This is a great story.

[NathanBookman]

Based on all of the scientific evidence I have read, it appears that over the next decade or two, the earth with be either warmer or cooler or about the same.

[Archon of the East]

Chalk one up for the Russians and also mark one in the column for common sense.

[js1138]

If a marketplace in election bets worked in the last election (accurately predictin g the outcome) why would a futures market in global temperatures work.

One thin is certain: putting money on the line would bring out the best analytical minds in the world -- most of which are not currently in science.

[steveegg]

I'll take the under.

Who has the "Place Bets Now" graphic?

[Balding_Eagle]

I'm with these guys. It's going to be cooler.

[TexasTransplant]

Sorry but $10,000.00 isn't even worth a cup of Coffee to Koffe or Kennedy, Clintonette, Algore, Kerry...

The Global Warming Myth is "BIG BUCKS" and Political Power and "CONTROL" of the World's only Super Power.

I wish we had leaders like George Washington today, hell just one Hamilton with an Uzi...

TT

[Balding_Eagle]

Dr Annan said Prof Lindzen wanted odds of 50-1 against falling temperatures, so would win $10,000 if the Earth cooled but pay out only £200 if it warmed. Seven other prominent climate change sceptics also failed to agree betting terms.

Someone correct me if I'm interpeting this the wrong way:

Prof Lindzen is saying, by the odds he wants, that it is 50 times more likely to be cooler than warmer.

[kcar]

What if either the winner or loser is dead? I wonder if TradeSports.com would post such a long-term bet, and how they handle the death of those betting and losing on events like Hillary Dem Nom in 2008? Do they go after the estate?

[Tarpon]

I am shocked that someone would actually think the output of the sun and sunspots could cause global warming. The disdain of such thought must be dealt with immediately.

[DarkSavant]

Oh yeah, well, I bet you 10,000 you're wrong!!! oh wait a minute....

[DarkSavant]

Wait, everyone knows that the climate is going into imaginary numbers in the next decade.

[SkyDancer]

I'm not too sure about sea level rising - take a glass and fill it with ice, pour in enough water to fill to the brim - what happens when the ice melts?
Same on earth - all the water there is, or ever was, is either in vapor, liquid or solid - the total volume is the same, it just changes around. The earth started off hot, then cooled in various places - atmosphere, oceans, and in the colder climes, it froze.

[HarryDog]

I have in my lap a Smithsonian Series book authored by C.G. Abbot, Secratary of the Smithsonian Institution. The title is "The Sun and the welfare of Man". In it he talks about his research in the variability of the sun and its effect on our weather. We discussed it in graduate school where I obtained my M.S. in Astronomy. His observations are as good or better that earth bound observations. The satellite observations that are being made today are very short term compaired wit the 22 year sunspot cycle. So don't be so sure about solar variability.

[Sonny M]

They are basically betting on something, which I don't believe humans even have any control over.

[pankot]

There is much thought that this warm spell preceeds an ice age to come in far future.

[LS]

The Julian Simon-skis of their day :)

[Marine_Uncle]

Yet a few more scientist that add the sun's energy output shifts to the equation. Global warming fanatics whether qualified as a bonified scientist or not, do not like to hear people talk about the huge amounts of energy solar flares can add to the equation. After all they can't take the sun away, they can with the lib/demos take your cars, factories, airconditionars etc., away from you (but not the Chicoms, God forbid). The horse manure shall continue to pile up.

[RGSpincich]

Don't believe the sceptics. The skeptics have the libs frazzled.