Global Warming

[Geo]

What are your views on global warming/climate change?

I'm not sure about over the pond, or down under... but here every political party has gone 'green' mad. Basically every part of their manifesto is about reducing emissions and preventing global warming. You guys may not even be seeing the effects, though I am witnessing them right now; last week we had perfect, sunny warm weather (which is odd for March) and this week they are forecasting heavy snow (also, very odd for March). The weather is just screwed here, right now it's so windy my TV and Internet keeps going down, but it's very sunny and slightly rainy at the same time.

Whilst I believe, and can see that climate change is happening, I do not believe we are responsible. I feel it's a natural climate shift, just like the previous ones in the Earth's History... we're just too small and insignificant to make such a drastic change.

What are your views? And keep this clean and intelligent, please. Respect people's decisions and opinions. If you don't understand global warming or climate change, don't waste valuable debating space with crap.

[shadowkhas]

I am right with you on noticing it...I'm in Salt Lake City, UT. Yeah, great snow, tall mountains, and a general cold place in the world.

It was really cold for about ONE WEEK. This past week it's been anywhere from 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and this overall year, the snow has been absolutely horrible. The snowfall total was ~350 inches, but average is over 500.

I however, don't think that it's a "natural thing." While the earth has been shown to go through cycles, in the 70's, scientists were worried that we were going to go into a period of global COOLING. Why's that? Sulfur. Sulfur blocks out the sun's rays, instead of keeping them trapped like the Carbon-xxxx-oxide gases do. When Sulfur was then regulated and mostly removed, we have seen a bigger INCREASE in temperatures. That shows that we're emitting things on a scale that hasn't been seen in the history of this earth. Combine industry with gigantic amounts of deforestation in South America and Africa, and you're sitting on a pressure cooker waiting to explode.

Our politicians have gone the good old 50-50 way. The Democratic party has been mostly environmentally friendly, and they're advocating it, whilst the Republican party assumes that since they're pro-environment, they're anti-business, and then the two parties degenerate into kindergarten style name calling, and we don't get anywhere.

[antszy101]

I don't know if it's global warming but SOMETHING is wrong here at Washington DC. from Tuesday to Thursday, it was an average of 74 degrees Fahrenheit, and then on friday, it dropped to 36 and we had a sleet/ice/snow storm. (not much accumulation though because of how warm it had been

[HPDarkness]

We should be doing something about it, But we're not. Everyone relies on gasoline, an we've had the ability to make electric cars and machinery for year. The only problem we have is the Oil-Mongers. Either way I really don't care now that most of the atmosphere has gone to shit, Hopefully I won't be alive when anything happens.

[ninja modder]

it is a US government conspiracy for us to buy more suntan lotion! >_>

[Cuda]

Yeah we had the same cold spell here in southern california. It dropped into the mdi to high 30's one week, then 1-2 weeks later, we had the highest temperatures in the nation, around 80 degrees.

[Alexander]

Yeah we had the same cold spell here in southern california. It dropped into the mdi to high 30's one week, then 1-2 weeks later, we had the highest temperatures in the nation, around 80 degrees.

I'm in California as well, it was absolutely bizarre to be wearing t shirts all this week, it was at around 81. COME ON MIDDLE OF MARCH?

[RaVNzCRoFT]

You should watch Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. It was actually quite good.

[JK-47]

I am right with you on noticing it...I'm in Salt Lake City, UT. Yeah, great snow, tall mountains, and a general cold place in the world.

It was really cold for about ONE WEEK. This past week it's been anywhere from 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and this overall year, the snow has been absolutely horrible. The snowfall total was ~350 inches, but average is over 500.

I however, don't think that it's a "natural thing." While the earth has been shown to go through cycles, in the 70's, scientists were worried that we were going to go into a period of global COOLING. Why's that? Sulfur. Sulfur blocks out the sun's rays, instead of keeping them trapped like the Carbon-xxxx-oxide gases do. When Sulfur was then regulated and mostly removed, we have seen a bigger INCREASE in temperatures. That shows that we're emitting things on a scale that hasn't been seen in the history of this earth. Combine industry with gigantic amounts of deforestation in South America and Africa, and you're sitting on a pressure cooker waiting to explode.

Our politicians have gone the good old 50-50 way. The Democratic party has been mostly environmentally friendly, and they're advocating it, whilst the Republican party assumes that since they're pro-environment, they're anti-business, and then the two parties degenerate into kindergarten style name calling, and we don't get anywhere.

:O Why u do that?

But yeah, that's about what I was gonna say.
Proof of what you just said about global cooling is that on September 11th when they grounded all the jet airliners for a few days, scientists noticed that the sky was perfectly clear and the temperatures increased pretty wildly, because the airliners put out all this stuff into the air that basically keeps all the heat from reaching us. Something like what you were saying has been proven to happen. The eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 (and other eruptions of a couple others), just spewed an enormous amount of ash into the atmosphere. The cause of this is known as the "Year without a summer." The title says it all.
While I do believe that this is a natural cycle, I think that we are provoking it on a large scale.

But yeah, we have been getting some odd weather in Utah for the week of really cold weather we just got over. I never get Utah's weather, it has been out of wak for a while. Although, it is nice to get some warm weather. I'm not a fan of the cold.

[shadowkhas]

Proof of what you just said about global cooling is that on September 11th when they grounded all the jet airliners for a few days, scientists noticed that the sky was perfectly clear and the temperatures increased pretty wildly, because the airliners put out all this stuff into the air that basically keeps all the heat from reaching us.

I can elaborate that. It depends on humidity, pressure, and temperature all at cruise levels of airliners (between 30,000 and 40,000 feet generally). If you have the JUST right weather conditions, the contrails of turbojet engines can stretch out and last for an entire day, providing artificial clouds which cover the earth.

[Darco]

Yeah we had the same cold spell here in southern california. It dropped into the mdi to high 30's one week, then 1-2 weeks later, we had the highest temperatures in the nation, around 80 degrees.

I'm in California as well, it was absolutely bizarre to be wearing t shirts all this week, it was at around 81. COME ON MIDDLE OF MARCH?

im not too far away from you, and ive been wearing shorts and a t-shirt since january. there were a few weeks that it was too cold for it, but for the most part its been warm around here. but, if you go to vallejo its sooo nice.

[Cuda]

Well, I live about 24 blocks from the ocean, so we do get some real freak weather. In the morning, visibility will be about 20 feet, and very cold, to mid to high 70's degrees with slight wind chill.

[noxiousraccoon]

Yeah we had the same cold spell here in southern california. It dropped into the mdi to high 30's one week, then 1-2 weeks later, we had the highest temperatures in the nation, around 80 degrees.

Im just quoting Cuda because much of the posts are relatively the same. All of the states have experienced inconsistent weather this year, but that doesnt necessarily mean that it is the effects of global warming. Take into effect the number of hurricanes from 2005 to 2006, every year is different and not necessarily a sign of global warming.

[[cc]z@nd!]

personally, i think we should take care of two problems at once and look at alternate forms of energy.

right now, we've been using fossil fuels (oil) for about a hundred-200 years, plus all the coal we've been burning. not only is this a limited source of energy, but it's dirty, and has all sorts of nasty by-products. if we turn to cleaner enrgy, like solar energy and wind energy, etc. as well as be more energy efficient, we can stop global warming.

but like shadowkhas said, if the US big business and govt. is going to do anything, it'll be debate and argue over it for a few years, then come in late in the game.

[gh0570fchurch]

Yeah we had the same cold spell here in southern california. It dropped into the mdi to high 30's one week, then 1-2 weeks later, we had the highest temperatures in the nation, around 80 degrees.

I'm in California as well, it was absolutely bizarre to be wearing t shirts all this week, it was at around 81. COME ON MIDDLE OF MARCH?

I'm in San Diego, and I wear T-shirts all year-round.

[noxiousraccoon]

Our politicians have gone the good old 50-50 way. The Democratic party has been mostly environmentally friendly, and they're advocating it, whilst the Republican party assumes that since they're pro-environment, they're anti-business, and then the two parties degenerate into kindergarten style name calling, and we don't get anywhere.

There isnt really anything our politicans can do. They can pass laws forcing businesses to change their ways, but happens if those businesses refuse to do so? You would say, fine them, but what if they dont pay the fine, or the pay the fine no problem, whats the next step? Shut down the business, how would the middle class deal with the fact the reason they lost their job was because of "global warming" and environmental issues. This issue should not rest on the politicans, it should remain up to companies and other businesses. For example, GE everyday is coming up with new technology to fix their environmental hazard issues. Also, this task should left up to the people of the world. If the people of this world really care about the environment, then more needs to be done outside of the governments of this world.

[Pyroman]

Yea I live in California in the middle of a valley. We would have like 10 fog delays every school year. But last year and this year...NONE! It's insanely warm to be the middle of March. I mean, I am swimming at a friend's house. And also going to the beach with a spring wetsuit on. Wierd stuff...

[Cuda]

I'm in San Diego, and I wear T-shirts all year-round.

So your lawn didn't freeze over? My Grandparents lost about 30 Avocado Trees In Fallbrook due to the Freeze.

[ScottyGEE]

I find that we are accelerating a natural process...Not 100% cause behind it...

But us Aussies are all like "wtf mate?"

[HPDarkness]

I bet it's all Scotty Gee's fault.