One of the many things that climate change deniers don't understand is the non-linearity of climate. That is, as you change some of the factors that make climate warmer or colder, suddenly one factor has such influence on the other factors that the rate of change of the other factors suddenly increases or decreases.
Put some water in a pan with a lid. Turn the heat on high. As the water heats, vapor starts to come up around the lid. Nothing to worry about. Go into another room and forget about it. Suddenly you hear water splashing and hissing in the kitchen. The formation of steam within the water has gotten to the point where the water volume has increased beyond the volume of the pan. Oh, yes, your going into another room had nothing to do with the water boiling over. The water would have boiled over if you had stood daydreaming at the stove.
What will happen to our climate if the amount of CO2 released from the warming oceans reaches a "boiling point"?
Blow up a balloon so that the surface is very tight. Carefully and slowly push a nail against the surface of the balloon. The surface of the balloon will deform. Then you sneeze and push harder on the nail. Bang! Oh, yes, I forgot to remind you to wear safety glasses. Sorry! I originally thought of suggesting a pin, but depending on how full you blew up the balloon, the pin might burst the balloon as soon as you touch the balloon's surface.
At what point will we melt so many glaciers that the sun will heat ground that has not been heated in eons.
Showing posts with label global warming deniers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label global warming deniers. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Age of Unreason
Sarah Palin quit as governor to become a celebrity. Sarah Palin is a Republican. Therefore all Republicans want to become celebrities.
Bad reasoning? Yes, but it is exactly the type of reasoning Sarah Palin uses in her recent article, which I saw in yesterday's Star Tribune. The original article is "Copenhagen's political science", Sarah Palin, Washington Post, 2009-12-09.
She maintains that some scientists in England supposedly falsified data. These scientists are proponents of the idea of global warming. Therefore all scientists who are proponents of the idea of global warming have falsified data.
If you have time, follow the links from the Washington Post. You might be able to find the posted emails, judge for yourself if they all are real, and determine how much they "disprove" global warming, if at all.
For a more balanced view, see "Whose war on science?", Michael Gerson, Washington Post, 2009-12-11.
You also can find many interesting comments by following almost any link.
Before you judge "conservatives" too harshly, consider that many "liberals" take facts out of context to make a point. Sixty some million people do not have health insurance. Sixty some million people are in imminent danger of a health crisis. Sixty some million people will suffer greatly because they don't have health insurance. Yes, there are many people who will suffer because they don't have health insurance, but let's find other justifications for health care being available to all who need it.
Bad reasoning? Yes, but it is exactly the type of reasoning Sarah Palin uses in her recent article, which I saw in yesterday's Star Tribune. The original article is "Copenhagen's political science", Sarah Palin, Washington Post, 2009-12-09.
She maintains that some scientists in England supposedly falsified data. These scientists are proponents of the idea of global warming. Therefore all scientists who are proponents of the idea of global warming have falsified data.
If you have time, follow the links from the Washington Post. You might be able to find the posted emails, judge for yourself if they all are real, and determine how much they "disprove" global warming, if at all.
For a more balanced view, see "Whose war on science?", Michael Gerson, Washington Post, 2009-12-11.
You also can find many interesting comments by following almost any link.
Before you judge "conservatives" too harshly, consider that many "liberals" take facts out of context to make a point. Sixty some million people do not have health insurance. Sixty some million people are in imminent danger of a health crisis. Sixty some million people will suffer greatly because they don't have health insurance. Yes, there are many people who will suffer because they don't have health insurance, but let's find other justifications for health care being available to all who need it.
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