Climate scientists feeling the heat - predictions 'have created a monster'

Houston Chronicle ^ | January 22,2007 | Eric Berger

[exnavy]

"most carefully studied..." What a crock,in the 1970's when I graduated high school the big thing was the coming ICE AGE.

[goldstategop]

Its more politics than science. Its being used to justify ever more extensive government management of every facet of our existence.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Dustbunny]

Wonder if the sun has anything to do with it. /sarc

[Lurker]

The next time one of these 'climate change scientists' tells you they can predict what it will be like in 20 years, ask them what the weather will be Wednesday after next.

L

[AmericaUnited]

Climate scientists might be expected to bask in the spotlight after their decades of toil.

How about they bask in their predictions of the coming Ice Age a short two decades ago?

[AmericaUnited]

But he acknowledges that considerable uncertainty exists with key events such as the melting of Antarctica, which contains enough ice to raise sea levels by 200 feet.

So this BOZO must think that Antartica has something like 5000 thousand feet of ice, sitting ABOVE current sea level...

[ex-Texan]

I listened to Art Bell's program for about fifteen minutes tonight. There was a guest talking about global warming and global cooling in these terms:

"Man has polluted the air and the seas. The result is dirtier air and dirtier water. But the real changes are planetary in nature. Sun cycles are responsible for everything going on today. Global warming is only a measurable result of geomagnetic changes. Earth changes are really solar system wide. Even Mars is heating up. The Gulf Stream that warms the Atlantic reversed its normal course for three months in 2006. Result: Europe was ripped by terrible winter storms. Everything is changing on the planet. Not just the weather."

The guest was talking about the magnetic poles of the earth flipping. Deadline is 2010 - 2012. Just more incredible bovine squat from Coast2Coast? You decide.

I'm tired of making rational arguments to an irrational world that believes a building better SUV is the answer to OPEC.

[FreedomCalls]

So this BOZO must think that Antartica has something like 5000 thousand feet of ice, sitting ABOVE current sea level...

It does:

Antarctica has an average altitude of 14,000 feet (6,000 feet of rock and 8,000 feet of ice/snow),

[JoeGar]

For millions of years, the earth has gone through periods of global warming and global cooling. Just 16,000 years ago, all of what is now Canada and most of what is now the Midwestern United States was covered by glaciers. These vast ice sheets have been retreating for the last 16,000 years due to global warming. Reversing the warming trend of the last 16,000 years has become a religion to those dumb enough to think that they can actually do it.

[ex-Texan]

*BUMP*!

[Sapper26]

To the public and policymakers, these details matter.


Since when? Details get in the way of political ambition.

[Marak]

Antarctica has an average altitude of 14,000 feet (6,000 feet of rock and 8,000 feet of ice/snow),

I have a hard time buying this figure from PBS.

[MadIvan]

When global warming is proved to be a load of nonsense, can I get my money back from green taxes?

Regards, Ivan

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The science of climate change often is expressed publicly in unambiguous terms.

Understatement of the year award.

[Marak]

Elevation
Average elevation:	2,300 m	7,546 ft	1.4 miles
Highest point of ice cap:	4,100 m	13,451 ft	2.5 miles
Mt Vinson Massif	4,897 m	16,066 ft	3.0 miles

---

Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, harshest continent, and with little precipitation (roughly 2in per year) is the driest place on earth. It is roughly 14 million sq km (5.4 million sq mi), has an average elevation of more than 2,000 m (6,500 ft), and 98% of the landmass is covered by an ice sheet estimated to be 29 million cu km (7 million cu mi).

---

Highest: Average elevation 8200 feet (2500 meters).

---

Almost all of Antarctica is under ice, in some areas by as much as 2 mi (3 km). The ice has an average thickness of about 6,600 ft (2,000 m), which is higher than many mountains in warmer countries. This grand accumulation of ice makes Antarctica the highest continent on Earth, with an average elevation of 7,500 ft (2,286 m).

While the ice is extremely high in elevation, the actual landmass of the continent is, in most places, well below sea level due to the weight of the ice. If all of this ice were to melt, global sea levels would rise by about 200 ft (65 m), flooding the world's major coastal ports and vast areas of low-lying land. Even if only one-tenth of Antarctica's ice were to slide into the sea, sea levels would rise by 20 ft (6 m), severely damaging the world's coastlines.

---

 

 

[expat_panama]

...the actual landmass of the continent is, in most places, well below sea level due to the weight of the ice.

...if only one-tenth of Antarctica's ice were to slide into the sea, sea levels would rise by 20 ft (6 m), severely damaging the world's coastlines.

That 20 ft. rise is bogus.

At the moment, the mass of the ice in Antarctica is pushing down the earth's surface.  If it melts into water that goes to Miami, then Antarctica will rise, and the seabed off Miami will go down.  Seems that sea level computer models are coming out as silly as everyone's climate models.

[IrishRainy]

I remember, in like 1975, Newsweak (or maybe it was Time) had a cover story about "The Coming Ice Age."

So were they lying then or are they lying now?

[Wonder Warthog]

"Scientists have substantial evidence to support the view that humans are warming the planet — as carbon dioxide levels rise, glaciers melt and global temperatures rise. Yet, for predicting the future climate, scientists must rely upon sophisticated — but not perfect — computer models."

Wrong. The stated "evidence" indicates that the planet may be warming---but it in no way establishes a causation connection between said warming and carbon dioxide.

And in point of actual fact, the highest temperatures in the current interglacial are not as warm as those in the previous one, and are not yet as high as those reached just before the "Little Ice Age"--a period well within historical times.

[DustyMoment]

The next time one of these 'climate change scientists' tells you they can predict what it will be like in 20 years, ask them what the weather will be Wednesday after next.

Aye, that's the ticket, laddie!"
James Doohan, "Scotty" on Star Trek.