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To: cogitator
A few observations regarding the chart you posted:
(1) The rise in CO2 levels seems to lag behind the rise in temperatures. I find that puzzling.
(2) The current rise in temperatures began about 17,000 years ago, long before human development altered the CO2 levels on earth.
(3) If the temperature has "stalled" at a high level, it appeared to do so before the CO2 levels rose.

I'm struggling to understand the basis for the conclusions regarding man's involvement in the current global warming.

65 posted on 07/06/2006 10:44:23 AM PDT by Senator_Blutarski (No good deed goes unpunished.)
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To: Senator_Blutarski
(1) The rise in CO2 levels seems to lag behind the rise in temperatures. I find that puzzling.

The current climate science understanding is that the glacial-interglacial cycles are induced by Milankovitch cycle solar forcing, and amplified by atmospheric CO2 concentration. Initial warming or cooling due to the Milankovitch factors will affect the oceanic CO2 content, and the release or absorption of CO2 (depending on whether warming or cooling is taking place) then drives/amplifies the direction of the Milankovitch forcing. As CO2 goes up or down, water vapor follows, creating the full temperature range cyclicity.

(2) The current rise in temperatures began about 17,000 years ago, long before human development altered the CO2 levels on earth.

Global temperature rose from 17,000 to 10,000 years ago, which marks the termination of the last glacial period. Then it has been very stable. Atmospheric CO2 stabilized at about 280 ppm following the termination.

(3) If the temperature has "stalled" at a high level, it appeared to do so before the CO2 levels rose.

This was what happened about 10,000 years ago. CO2 concentrations have been the same since, until about 250 years ago.

74 posted on 07/06/2006 12:15:59 PM PDT by cogitator
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To: Senator_Blutarski
I'm struggling to understand the basis for the conclusions regarding man's involvement in the current global warming.

Man's involvement is debatable. CO2 seems to be feedback from warming as well as man's contributions. How much from each is debatable, but there's no question that there is a solar driven component (see my previous post).

115 posted on 07/07/2006 4:51:02 AM PDT by palmer (Money problems do not come from a lack of money, but from living an excessive, unrealistic lifestyle)
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