Drop in world temperatures fuels global warming debate

McClatchy ^ | August 19, 2009 | Robert S. Boyd

[PreciousLiberty]

Has Earth's fever broken?

Official government measurements show that the world's temperature has cooled a bit since reaching its most recent peak in 1998.

That's given global warming skeptics new ammunition to attack the prevailing theory of climate change. The skeptics argue that the current stretch of slightly cooler temperatures means that costly measures to limit carbon dioxide emissions are ill-founded and unnecessary.

Proposals to combat global warming are "crazy" and will "destroy more than a million good American jobs and increase the average family's annual energy bill by at least $1,500 a year," the Heartland Institute, a conservative research organization based in Chicago, declared in full-page newspaper ads earlier this summer. "High levels of carbon dioxide actually benefit wildlife and human health," the ads asserted.

Many scientists agree, however, that hotter times are ahead. A decade of level or slightly lower temperatures is only a temporary dip to be expected as a result of natural, short-term variations in the enormously complex climate system, they say.

[norge]

It was Cincy that was -25. But snow did fall in Miami for the first and, to my knowledge, the only time.

[specsaregood]

Oh, you must not have run into the gorebots that claim that the current cooling stage is a direct result of global warming. I have run into plenty of them. LOL.

[ohioman]

I agree with you. Global Cooling is much more scarier. Heck, the area where I live (outside of Dayton, Ohio) has been under a several thousand-foot sheet of Ice several times during the last 100,000 years, and as recent as 10,000 years ago (a mere speck of geologic time).

Many know that the Great Lakes were formed from the melted left overs and scouring of various glacial periods. What many people in Ohio do not know is that the current course of the Ohio river on the state's Southern Border constitutes a very young location for a major river, probably one of the youngest in the world for a major river as large as the Ohio. Prior to the Glacial Periods of the past 100,000 years (BTW - we are still in an Ice Age), the Ohio River ran from Southeast Ohio and ran in a Northwesterly direction toward Findley, OH and across Northern Indian and Illinois until it reached the Mississippi River (Called the Teays River). The various Glacial periods wiped this old river bed out and moved the Ohio River South to its current location. Pretty interesting stuff, but I would not want to witness it. Of course, it probably wouldn't effect the job situation in some of our rotting cities.

[norge]

Well, as a former Indy resident, I landed in CA in ‘78, too, and the last couple of days, I could believe in GW, but overall, this summer has been relatively cool.

[Iron Munro]

How dare anyone challenge GORE-BULL warming with actual fact!

FUN FACTS about CARBON DIOXIDE

1. Of the 186 billion tons of CO2 that enter earth's atmosphere each year from all sources, only 6 billion tons are from human activity. Approximately 90 billion tons come from biologic activity in earth's oceans and another 90 billion tons from such sources as volcanoes and decaying land plants.

2. At 368 parts per million CO2 is a minor constituent of earth's atmosphere-- less than 4/100ths of 1% of all gases present. Compared to former geologic times, earth's current atmosphere is CO2- impoverished.

3. CO2 is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Plants absorb CO2 and emit oxygen as a waste product. Humans and animals breathe oxygen and emit CO2 as a waste product. Carbon dioxide is a nutrient, not a pollutant, and all life-- plants and animals alike-- benefit from more of it. All life on earth is carbon-based and CO2 is an essential ingredient. When plant-growers want to stimulate plant growth, they introduce more carbon dioxide.

4. CO2 that goes into the atmosphere does not stay there but is continually recycled by terrestrial plant life and earth's oceans-- the great retirement home for most terrestrial carbon dioxide.

5. If we are in a global warming crisis today, even the most aggressive and costly proposals for limiting industrial carbon dioxide emissions would have a negligible effect on global climate!

SOURCE - Global Warming: A Chilling Perspective

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Correction...25 above, thanks

That makes more sense. The only way I can see it reaching minus 25 in Miami (in this epoch, anyway) is for Algore to pick a south Florida venue for a global warming speech.

[dennisw]

I honestly heard some tree hugger explain that the recent cooling is still caused by global warming because the polar ice is melting and cooling off the oceans and the rest of the world.

 

They always find a way to justify their fear and paranoia. But they'll break too with a few more years of earth cooling. Australia broke. Its Senate voted down a big can n trade  legislation

[driftless2]

"much scarier"

I would bet that even the most ardent AGW libs would do an about face on their position if they looked outside their northern windows and saw a ten thousand foot high wall of ice. I really want to find the people who would like colder weather in the northern states.

[thulldud]

Still looking for the earth that is, “just right!”

You could call this guy.

[ignorancerunsrampant]

Isn't it time that we start teaching sun spot activity [solar flares] as part of the school science class. There is nothing man DOES to effect the temperature, and there is nothing he can DO to effect the temperature.

IT IS HOGWASH!

[BOBTHENAILER]

bump

[az_gila]

Many scientists agree, however, that hotter times are ahead..

---

I also notice that “consensus” has be downgraded to “many”, actually bypassing “most”.

Perhaps there is hope for logical thinking...:^)
What's next, “some”?

[GOPJ]

I also notice that “consensus” has be downgraded to “many”, actually bypassing “most”. Perhaps there is hope for logical thinking...:^) What's next, “some”?

Ummm, reporters can't do math - I think you've decoded what they're trying to say.

[norge]

Could happen ;)

[Old Professer]

[norge]

I just now read the entire article, by Hyde, and the “experts” are spinning so fast, their tongues look like a glazed twist doughnut.

[norge]

That pic makes me cold just looking at it. Is one of those the Delta Queen? Naw, too small.

[Lancey Howard]

LOL, how stupid do you have to be not to understand that “global warming” isn’t about global warming? It’s about socialism.

[Lancey Howard]

By the way, didn’t the socialist scammers try to change “global warming” to “climate change”, just to cover all the bases? Guess that went over as big as changing “liberal” to “progressive”... Funny how you only have to worry about that kind of label change when you’re a liar. Conservatives have never had to change their label or shy from telling the straight truth about what they stand for.

[upchuck]

Well, it says in the article its complex. That is one reason Washington can’t fix it.

Given the government history over the last six months of "fixing" stuff, I say the government should run away from anything that has the slightest bit of complexity.

"Cars for Clinkers" is a hilarious example.