National Geographic: Melting Mars Means Man-Made Global Warming a Myth

NewsBusters, National Geographic ^ | 3/1/2007 | Noel Sheppard

[AT7Saluki]

...Regardless, the earth-shattering piece began ...

Simultaneous warming on Earth and Mars suggests that our planet's recent climate changes have a natural—and not a human-induced—cause, according to one scientist's controversial theory.

The article marvelously continued:

Earth is currently experiencing rapid warming, which the vast majority of climate scientists says is due to humans pumping huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. (Get an overview: "Global Warming Fast Facts".)

Mars, too, appears to be enjoying more mild and balmy temperatures.

In 2005 data from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey missions revealed that the carbon dioxide "ice caps" near Mars's south pole had been diminishing for three summers in a row.

Habibullo Abdussamatov, head of the St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in Russia, says the Mars data is evidence that the current global warming on Earth is being caused by changes in the sun.

"The long-term increase in solar irradiance is heating both Earth and Mars," he said.

[AT7Saluki]

Seems like something else is melting fast: Algore et.al.'s 15 minutes. And note that the theory that GW ISN'T happening is controversial.

[taxed2death]

http://www.cassiopaea.org/cass/waveindex.htm
spoooooky stuff.

[daku]

either check the emmisions on the rovers or ...

take back the oscar from al bore

[r9etb]

And note that the theory that GW ISN'T happening is controversial.

That's only the first question. Global warming may well be happening. Assuming it is, the second and more important question is: what's causing it?

Folks tend to combine these two questions such that "Global Warming, Therefore Our Fault".

The counter by such noted scientists as Mr. Limbaugh is to say, "Not Our Fault, therefore No Global Warming."

Interestingly, these are logically equivalent statements -- and both wrong.

[RockinRight]

Ban SUV's on Mars.

[RockinRight]

Tinfoil stuff too.

[RockinRight]

If Mars is warming anyway, let's terraform the damn place and turn it into a CONSERVATIVE planet-wide Republic like the US is supposed to me. ;-)

[upchuck]

Based on reading from both sides of the controversy, IMHO, global warming is indeed happening. But it is being caused by the sun and there is little we mere mortals can do about it.

Methinks part of this "mass hysteria" is to allow a bunch of people to apply for funding to keep chasing something that doesn't exist.

If global warming is debunked, they'll have to find a real job.

[Smokin' Joe]

About time!

[pillut48]

Better yet, let's ban AlGoracle to Mars and let him preach to the choir! ;-)

[mtbopfuyn]

It's the little green men's fault.

[L98Fiero]

I've always thought that those who expect our climate to remain static are the kooks.

Of course global warming is happening. As this and other articles contend, it's not just happening on earth and there is no hard reason to believe it is a bad thing or caused by man.

I'm angry because the weather has been hijacked as a political platform by Democrats. The freakin' WEATHER.

[bmwcyle]

[GourmetDan]

"Based on reading from both sides of the controversy, IMHO, global warming is indeed happening. But it is being caused by the sun and there is little we mere mortals can do about it."

If I remember by pre-PC history correctly, the Medieval Warm Period was quite preferable to the Little Ice Age which followed.

[Hatteras]

Unbelievable... We are so rotten that our greenhouse gas destruction of mother earth is leading to the destruction of Mars! You know what this means?

Of Course! George Bush could destroy the entire GALAXY!!! HE MUST BE STOPPED!!!

[jonrick46]

Quick! Let's put out mirrors!

[ChessExpert]

My understanding is that by our best yet uncertain measures the following two claims are true: a) the earth is slightly warmer now than one hundred years ago, b) the earth is cooler now than 1000 years ago. So is that warming or cooling?

[agere_contra]

The controversy is about man-made, or anthropogenic GW. There is no doubt about the slow current warming: just as there is no doubt about the Mediaeval warm period. Both were/are caused by the Milankovitch cycle and solar variability.

[RockinRight]

Bad link - can't see the pic.

[edcoil]

"greenhouse gases into the atmosphere"

According to NASA's head climatologist, the greenhouse gases actually "keep the earth cooler."

Without the greenhouse gases, the temp on the plant would average 145 degree F.