Global Cooling?
Discussions about global warming often lead to the response that “we don’t understand the climate and how it changes. In fact, the worry in the 1970’s was that the climate was cooling and we were headed toward another ice age.”
I’ve searched for articles from that period to find evidence of that and have been unsuccessful, so the other day during the morning show I asked listeners where I could find some and a couple of people responded. Gerritt sent me a link to this Newsweek article from April 1975, and Kathy sent me a link to this article from the New York Times in May of that same year. Thanks to both of you.
The articles are similar and both very interesting. The thing that leaps out at me, though, is the lack of certainty from the scientists who were interviewed for the articles (they are pretty much the same scientists). They think the climate is cooling but aren’t sure and have very little historical information to draw from. Ultimately, the authors aren’t able to draw a very definitive conclusion.
I would point out that these are two articles that were published about a month apart. That doesn’t mean there weren’t more from that era, but I don’t recall a huge outcry about global cooling during that period.
I’ve interviewed climate scientists who say that the climate was indeed cooling for a time during that heavy industrial age due to the immense amount of particulate pollution that was being produced. They contend that stricter regulations on that type of pollution mitigated that effect and, with ever increasing amounts of greenhouse gasses being introduced into the atmosphere, a warming of the climate began.
I don’t believe that human activity is the only factor in climate change. To believe that would be silly. But I also think we’re in total denial if we think that spewing billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the air coupled with massive deforestation and the other ways we are uniquely able to alter the planet and its balance can in no way affect the climate. And, despite a few dissenting voices (dissent is good, don’t get me wrong), the overwhelming scientific opinion is that human activity is involved.
Admitting we have a problem is the first step toward recovery.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:43 am
Think there’s a Rant and a Ramble coming up here!:
“Day After Tomorrow” even as a movie, closely based on Art Bell’s “Global Superstorm” book, comes to mind.
These winter conditions have the global warming skeptics attempting triumphant told-ja-soes, and that’s easy to do without doing a little research.
Just by watching the weather you can see what a mere 5 degree difference in a pressure system not even the size of Oregon can do to wind direction and temperatures. Ozone depletion cranking up the heat over the polar ice caps sending desalinized fresh water and ice into major ocean currents affecting weather patterns was the plot of the movie.
Global Climate Change maybe might be a better term, but we are changing and have been since before mankind started it’s contributions. At one time North America had Dinosaurs walking it’s woods, a species I don’t commonly associate with our 8 inches of snowpatches lately. A T-Rex growling about scraping frost off it’s windshield, lol.
Still, I don’t think it hurts a bit to see what possible ways, within reason, that we can reduce our negative affect on the surroundings that we’re going to have our descendants living around. Some might not care for this disposable planet as much but they have to admit they do want their grandchildren growing up in a safe environment.
I don’t see why there’s objections to that. Maybe it’s the source? GWB suggests the answer to power our cars is using hundreds of acres of corn an grass and people just love that idea, but anyone democratic or liberal suggests not using a certain type of chemical on your waterfront property lawn and it gets seen as ridiculous? :S
Anger and Denial are steps Before Acceptance, so at least we’re moving in the right direction lol. Keep up the good fight.
{PS: There are just some topics and debates you and Patti are going to run into over and over that you could each probably record answers to both sides of the issues on a 100-key sound effects board. Nobody’s giving Ground for fear of giving Up!}
March 18th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Hey Joe,
I recall in elementary school in the 60s being taught that the Earth was cooling and that we were headed for another ice age. Remember the “Weekly Reader?” We read articles in there and discussed this as a class. It was … mmmm, maybe third to fifth grade, so that puts it late 60s.
- damon
March 30th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
The whole thing is yet another hoax perpetrated by none other than James Hansen and propagated by the IPCC.
We have no more control over earth’s climate than we do on Mars.
If carbon dioxide is a pollutant, then why is it required for photosynthesis to occur? CO2 is plant food, yet it’s been demonized by the ignorant and unenlightened.
Where was the climate pontiff himself on Earth Day http://www.globalwarmingskeptics.info/?p=1933
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I thought it was Carbon MONoxide.
Can’t do a thing about the DIOxides, unless it’s as some suspect and the air we breathe will be taxed.