Global Warming

[lilloaf1990]

Im just wondering what you think about global warming. It has been a very hot summer down by me and what about you guys? Some scientist say that we're causing it by polution, some say that its just a phase in the earths cycle. I think its us and our polution. What do you think?

[lildixon]

If you really want me to get technical I can. I just finished studying this for like 3 months in Earth Science. So, if you really want me to explain then just tell me. I'm not going to put the effort forward unless I'm asked. I'm just that lazy.

[titanslax]

I heard it was all a conspiracey made up by them damn aliens up in the stars.

[BTlaxripper]

There is no refuting the fact that pollution leads to global warming, but I believe people are placing too much of an emphasis on pollution.

Yes pollution is bad, yes the environment needs protection, don't get me wrong. However, global warming is not as severe as people make it out to be.

When Mount Saint Helen's erupted, it emitted more gasses which cause global warming than all the SUV's in the world can create in two years.

Cows, yes cows, they eat and fart ALOT. The methane gas given off by them, as odd as it sounds, was cited in an article as being the greatest poponent of theorized "global warming".

The earth cools and warms in phases, the world is a constant pendulum. I hope that you don't go through life thinking nothing will change and everything is set in stone, because that is not the nature of the world.

If you made a timeline of the earth's history to scale 1 mile long, humanity's existence would only take up one human hair width of the time line. I don't think that we can destroy a planet that has been around for billions and billion of years - an unfathomable amount of time - in the few years that cars have been around.

Man can never conquer nature, the world is not fragile and is not yielding to humans. It has been displayed in the hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, snow storms, mudslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, etc.

Nature can overtake us and wipe US out at any time. I think destroying nature should be the last thing on our mind.

[lildixon]

Alright seeing BTlaxripper is trying to be smarter then me I guess I will have too shine through

[vikinglax3522]

i think its just a cycle and as i see it in a while there will be no winter

[SachemsGoalie40]

we might be contributing to it a little but probably not enough

sooner than later ( not while we're around ) there will probably be another ice age, just a guess

[sweet_ceX]

I'm pretty inconsiderate of it when i think about it. Isn't it true though that only 2% of global warming is caused directly by humans; cars, smoking, etc.

[Canadian Lax]

its been a hot winter here in Canada. Really one of the mildest winters we'ver ever had....only had to put my heavy winter jacket on a few times but either then that a spring jacket w/a sweatshirt but still gotta wear touques and gloves. Not to much snow this yr ....im glad less cleaning off the car and less money on gas :D


-one bad thing is the beer isnt as cold as last yrs winter...not as much snow to keep it in, but still pretty cold. We always keep out beer outside its like a fridge/frezzer

[lildixon]

There are many many many clues and signs that yes we are and have been hitting a global warming period. Examples

The ocean itself is a big clue. The average global temperature has risen 2 degrees over the last century. Does that sound like alot? Nope. Is it alot? Yep! Wonder why we have had a world record in severe hurricanes this year? Well, thats because the water over the ocean that is the main "food" source for hurricanes has risen. Also, glaciers at the Arctic have melted and broken away. Spring has come to the US 3-5 weeks earlier then it did 100 years ago. The colors of Coral Reefs change colors in different climates and temperatures. Over the past couple of years Coral Reefs all around the world have been changing. Ocean levels are increasing as the ice melts away from the polar regions thus showing that the Earth is warming.
What is causing global warming? Well, the Earth has a very fragile and important function called the Greenhouse Effect. The greenhouse effect is simply a series of gases that trap and hold radiation from the sun keeping our Earth nice and toasty. Well since the main Greenhouse Gas (CO2) levels have risen incredible amounts guess what. This makes our Earth alittle bit toastier. Things that cause greenhouse gases (GHGs) to raise: Volcanos and Meteors. Thing caused by humans are cars, transportation and the industrial buildings. The levels of CO2 have been over 200% more then they ever have been over the past 500 thousand years. (not sure about whatever was before those 500 thousands years but they probably weren't this high).

Should all of this scare you. Nope, the Earth will hit a cooling trend before it actually gets warmer anyway. Wierd huh? It will get cooler when Global Warming is really in effect. Well there ya have it folks......Yeah I do have a 98 in Earth Science

[fossil8412]

Uhh guys, take AP Environmental Science. Then try to argue a legitimate case. Laxripper, you are way off. "Cows, yes cows, they eat and fart ALOT. The methane gas given off by them, as odd as it sounds, was cited in an article as being the greatest poponent of theorized "global warming."" Please tell me what article you got that from so I can write a letter to the editor on why he printed such retarded information. Global warming is unquestionably caused by an excess in pollution and a lack of strict emmission standards. And, to quote you again, "Nature can overtake us and wipe US out at any time. I think destroying nature should be the last thing on our mind." I don't know whether you mean natural disasters can overtake us, as you referred to them in your preceding paragraph, but I promise you that the movie Day After Tomorrow was not based on a true story. Furthermore, nature can only "wipe us out" if we let it. There is such a thing known as a sustainable yield. This is the maximum amount a resource can be used before it is economically depleted (meaning it costs more to extract than it is worth). We are very close (within the next century) to reaching our sustainable yield in petroleum and water. Less than 2 percent of the earth's water is freshwater, and an even smaller percent of that is readily accessible to humans. Glaciers basically form the rest of that water, which is inaccessible. As glaciers melt into the ocean (due to global warming) that freshwater percentage is slowly shrinking. Following this will come drought, high prices on water, etc. etc. So, I really have no idea what you are talking about, saying that environmental issues should be the last thing on our mind.

On a side note, please don't take anything I said as a personal attack; rather, a difference in opinion

[JoshM]

I believe global warming is happening, but it's being over played; primarily due to the current media ubiquity on the subject.

However, I do think we need to acknowledge it is a problem, unlike the Bush administration.

[atacklax]

This probably isn't the first time global warming has kicked in, its just the first time humans have had the technology to notice the 2 degree temperature increase. Unless it gets much worse, I'm not too worried. But I have been having a really warm winter with almost no snow.

[roycegracie47]

The colors of Coral Reefs change colors in different climates and temperatures. Over the past couple of years Coral Reefs all around the world have been changing. Ocean levels are increasing as the ice melts away from the polar regions thus showing that the Earth is warming.

Actually the color of coral is wholly dependant upon the algae covering it, the only color change being the death of the algae due to insufficient light or an extreme drop in tempurature.As a result coral can only survive under tropical conditions, and is therefore only found between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Reef change is largley due to the migratory nature of coral, which tends to go from East to West, exampled by the currents taking spores from the Azores to the Carribean, so Easterly facing reefs such as those found in the Carribean or the Great Barrier Reef is more abundance than those on a Westerly face or in locations West of them. Global Warming has been a hot topic as far as Coral preservations goes, the basic elements of convection of Ocean Temps playing a major role as to how the Earth changes it's own climate as eons and epochs go by. Pollution itslef is stil a great concern for the health of the reefs in both the Physical (ocean dumpage) and the longterm (global warming) but isn't something that happened overnight nor can be rectified overnight. We should be very concerned with pollutions effects on our health and environment, but unless we know how to kill of Mother Nature for good, she'll get us before we every do lethal damage.

[BTlaxripper]

Uhh guys, take AP Environmental Science. Then try to argue a legitimate case. Laxripper, you are way off. "Cows, yes cows, they eat and fart ALOT. The methane gas given off by them, as odd as it sounds, was cited in an article as being the greatest poponent of theorized "global warming."" Please tell me what article you got that from so I can write a letter to the editor on why he printed such retarded information. Global warming is unquestionably caused by an excess in pollution and a lack of strict emmission standards. And, to quote you again, "Nature can overtake us and wipe US out at any time. I think destroying nature should be the last thing on our mind." I don't know whether you mean natural disasters can overtake us, as you referred to them in your preceding paragraph, but I promise you that the movie Day After Tomorrow was not based on a true story. Furthermore, nature can only "wipe us out" if we let it. There is such a thing known as a sustainable yield. This is the maximum amount a resource can be used before it is economically depleted (meaning it costs more to extract than it is worth). We are very close (within the next century) to reaching our sustainable yield in petroleum and water. Less than 2 percent of the earth's water is freshwater, and an even smaller percent of that is readily accessible to humans. Glaciers basically form the rest of that water, which is inaccessible. As glaciers melt into the ocean (due to global warming) that freshwater percentage is slowly shrinking. Following this will come drought, high prices on water, etc. etc. So, I really have no idea what you are talking about, saying that environmental issues should be the last thing on our mind.

On a side note, please don't take anything I said as a personal attack; rather, a difference in opinion

First of all, I'm just going to disregard your rebuttal, just for the fact that you're boasting the fact that you take AP Environmental Sciences, so obviously your opinion matters more. And then you personally insult me but claiming I believe some movie (which I have never seen, I actually enjoy culturally contributing movies) is true.

You really think Water prices are going to rise? Wow. Who's being apocalyptic now? I did not say environmental issues should be the last thing on our mind, I said 'destroying nature' -- are we harming it? Yes. That needs to stop. Do I think humans can destroy the world? No. Your third folly, don't misquote.

The Earth warms and cools. Yes humans may have a slight effect on it, but we aren't solely to blame for the 2* temperature rise in the oceans.

The Earth is not coming to an end because of us. Emissions are being reformed, the hole in the O-zone will be gone by 2050 -- and I guarantee you that even after all those measures are taken, the world will still warm and cool in cycles.

I'm just amused at guessing what people will be forced to blame it on. . . perhaps the Carbon Monoxide we exhale. Maybe we should all stop breathing to save the environment and stop global warming.

[whslax1990]

The ice age didnt end because cars came around. Its a cycle. BTlaxripper had a little more detail than me though.

[franks2089]

Why do we care by the time that it gets bad enough there will most likely be some solution to the problem that clears it all up. Mind you this is generations away from being a problem.

[roughrider]

Global Warming is really a tricky subject. For allot of the world the avg temp will rise, most importantly in the polar ice caps. Some parts of the world are going to have their climates are going to become dramatically colder. The rise in ocean teperatures has been slowing the gulf streams. These gulf streams blow warm air to northerly places like England.

Global warming exists and should be our number one priority as a global community. This is NOT a cycle. It is far too rapid an increase in temperature to be a naturally occuring cycle. This is man made. The only solution to this will come from man. We have a short time to act.

[bayhawkslax216]

Actually, about the bovine methane emissions:
http://www.cgfi.org/materials/articles/2005/april_01_05.htm
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/12/scientists_snif.php
so actually, 'cow farts' are a real issue in terms of Global Warming

Seems to me that one way to counter global warming is to stop clearcutting. With more trees, there will be more photosynthesis, and therefore more respiration, and therefore less CO2 in the air and more O2.

[GarysGod]

we might be contributing to it a little but probably not enough

sooner than later ( not while we're around ) there will probably be another ice age, just a guess

Everytime you drive a car you are contributing to global warming and yes it will be enough as the years progress..

[slinkyspine]

its been a hot winter here in Canada. Really one of the mildest winters we'ver ever had....only had to put my heavy winter jacket on a few times but either then that a spring jacket w/a sweatshirt but still gotta wear touques and gloves. Not to much snow this yr ....im glad less cleaning off the car and less money on gas :D


-one bad thing is the beer isnt as cold as last yrs winter...not as much snow to keep it in, but still pretty cold. We always keep out beer outside its like a fridge/frezzer
Very hot winter. We have to keep our beer in the fridge the garage is too warm now.

[fossil8412]

I didnt personally insult you. Did you not read my sidenote? Also, I wasnt boasting-- I was simply trying to prove a point of credibility about my information. The hole in the ozone will be gone by 2050 you say? I am curious to know how.

[stegmakk]

Global warming is not good...but it is not the CAUSE of these warm winters...just a catalyst...

OK...the earth and nature and life is all about cycles...the earth was hot and humid...we had an ice age...we are now in the melting stages...the earth has been around millions of years and has run hot and cold...
Even the magneti poles move around and sometimes invert...

HOWEVER...global warming caused by humans is a catalyst not only speeding up the process but making the effects worse...
Lets just say you are weightlifting...your body is the earth...you will naturally get bigger the more you lift and you know you will get acne once in a while...now enters steroids (global warming)...it will speed up the natural process of you getting bigger, and it makes the severity of your acne worse...

And as to the cow gas discussion...think about this...cows like chickens have gone from a natural roaming creature to a daily food source...as the human population has skyrocketed so have these food sources which are basically raised to sustain us...there are a hell of alot more of them in the world BECAUSE we have meddled in nature and are raising them specifically for food (meat and milk)...we would not have as many cows if the earth population was not as large as it is...

[TheKOB]

we're actually in the midst of a cooling phase. Also, during the '70's weren't we worried that there was going to be another Ice Age?

It's far from a consensus in the scientific community that golbal warming exists. I think it exists to a small degree (the amount caused by humans) but it's being used by environmental groups to push their political agenda and strike fear in the hearts of everyone.

as for clearcutting, the only people doing that now are poor people trying to scrape out a living in the rain forests. Logging companies actually help, because they own a bunch of forest land, cut it, and keep it forested, while if they weren't allowed to log, they'd sell it, and someone would put up a mall or housing development or something.

It's been a warm winter here, but that doesn't mean somewhere else isn't experiencing a freakin cold winter. Like someone earlier said, global warming (if it exists) is a slow, steady process.

With it being a slow steady process, what do we have to base our data on? In the general view of the world, a century is just a second in time.

Am I saying pollute all you want? No, there are plenty of reasons not to pollute...but global warming might or might not be one of 'em. It sure sounds good though....if you don't stop polluting you're killing the earth! As P&T said, who doesn't want to save the earth? It's sexy...

recycling is (for the most part) a waste of money and time too....but that's a different eco-nut story.

[laxgoalieking]

It's been a warm winter here, but that doesn't mean somewhere else isn't experiencing a freakin cold winter. Like someone earlier said, global warming (if it exists) is a slow, steady process.

i dont think any where is realy getting a freezing winter yet, here in CANADA its nice and warm with the sun shining and now snow for miles.perfect for some pick up games of field.and it has been mild allover ontario sofar.

[TheKOB]

i dont think any where is realy getting a freezing winter yet, here in CANADA its nice and warm with the sun shining and now snow for miles.perfect for some pick up games of field.

so we've got SC and wherever you are in canada crossed off the list.

just a million other spots across the globe to go...

BTW, it was freakin cold up in VT when I was up there this Christmas. Theory disproven? Stay tuned...

[bayhawkslax216]

Actually the warm weather in the northern states and Canada is due to the Polar Air Masses that have shifted more towards Europe and Asia. That is why we have warm weather while there are deadly cold temperatures (down to -60 F). This doesn't mean anything for global warming. It is a natural occurance. Sometimes the Polar Air Masses are shifted here, sometimes somewhere else, and alot of time are in the center, over the north pole.

[BTlaxripper]

I didnt personally insult you. Did you not read my sidenote? Also, I wasnt boasting-- I was simply trying to prove a point of credibility about my information. The hole in the ozone will be gone by 2050 you say? I am curious to know how.

I don't specifically know how -- any of you have Channel 1? They did this report on the O-zone layer and the ban on CFC's. And their last sentence was "scientists project the hole in the Ozone layer will be filled by 2050." That's all I know.

[BTlaxripper]

Actually, about the bovine methane emissions:
http://www.cgfi.org/materials/articles/2005/april_01_05.htm
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/12/scientists_snif.php
so actually, 'cow farts' are a real issue in terms of Global Warming

Seems to me that one way to counter global warming is to stop clearcutting. With more trees, there will be more photosynthesis, and therefore more respiration, and therefore less CO2 in the air and more O2.

Yep. Weird, but true.