Wikipedia is usually pretty good, I recall reading a study recently were it was compared to the Encyclopedia Britannica and it compared very well. I use it quite a bit and it come in very handy.
As an example take a look at it's excellent article on Studebaker!
Lee Aanderud wrote:
The same ice cores, and tree rings, etc. etc. that are used to support the global warming theory also prove that indeed was a global warming event in the Middle ages. And thermometers weren't invented then, and nobody kept temperature records as such, (although I expect records WERE kept of the date of the first/last frost, and rainfall, and crop outcomes, etc.).
There is no question whatsoever that the earth's climate has changed repeatedly over the course of geologic time. And the changes often appear to have been crashingly abrupt on a geologic time scale.
And prior to about 100,000 years ago, there were not enough humans present to have had a measurable effect on climate, but nevertheless, it did repeatedly change.
Gord Richmond
And by what measure are they getting worse? We have really only tried to make meaningful measurements of hurricane frequency and intensity for what, fifty years? Maybe even a century? And the tools we use to make such measurement are continually being refined, so that data from 40 years back cannot be directly compared with current data without inferences being made.
Sure hurricanes are doing more damage; but the areas subject to hurricanes are becoming fatter and fatter. Compare Florida today to Florida circa 1920.
Thanks to global media, we now have a much greater awareness of extreme weather events. When we were kids, a tornado 500 miles away probably would go unremarked in our own local TV and radio, or in our hometown newspapers, until days after the fact, if at all.
Now, if there's a tornado in Kansas, I see it on my local TV the same day. So I'm more aware of tornados. Same applies to hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. They aren't necessarily more frequent or more devastating, just better reported. (One could say the same thing about crime, for that matter.)
Gord Richmond
Scientists are constantly seeking funding for their projects. If you can convince the funding sources that there is a crisis, and that more research can "solve" it, then you get funding. If you take the position that everything is OK, and nothing need be done, then there is no need for funding, is there?
Professional organizations are just like labor unions. You can't expect them to support any position that would reduce the need for their services. It's not a conspiracy; it's just naked self-interest.
What tells me that the global warming debate is a political fabrication, and not a genuine scientific controversy, is that there is such a clear Left/Right divide on the issue.
Gord Richmond
That's real simple... You choose specific sources while I generalize.
Plus, I do not have a political agenda..
JT
John Poulos wrote:
Heh... The site is over simplified and contains a ton of errors in the climate ratings section. Leave it to the guv'ment to...
JT
Jeff Rice wrote:
I give up.
The last strong El Nino was in the late 1990's...
JT
John Poulos wrote:
This was nothing but a troll Pat. I saw it coming when you posted it and I feel more than a bit smug in knowing I was right on another count.
I expect better from you. No - I "expected" better from you (past tense), this crap seems to be right up your alley.
Thanks for wasting another couple of evenings of my time wading through this BS.
Rob
Pat Drnec wrote:
The Vikings and others out there are still trying to prove the Northwest Passage was a major shipping route in the 1100's, and some (including the Canadian government) are spending huge sums on studies to see if its viable today for the 3 months of the year it can be used.
Craig
Almost stopped, what are you reading science fiction magazines? LOL
mike hunt
El Nino is caused by warming of the ocean waters when the tectonic plates under the Pacific move and volcanic activity under the ocean increases. Try heating a pot of water by applying heat to the air above it. Let us know what happens LOL
mike hunt
Again that is your opinion. How do you explain the prevailing westerly wind and ocean currents? you are obviously not a sailor LOL
mike hunt
You better re-read that report ;)
mike hunt
Actually it was National Geographics TV program that I was quoting. ;)
mike hunt
True scientist believe the following. The environuts want us to believe it is only cause by man and the carbon dioxide he produces.
Causes of Climate Change The work of climatologists has found evidence to suggest that only a limited number of factors are primarily responsible for most of the past episodes of climate change on the Earth. These factors include:
a.. Variations in the Earth's orbital characteristics. b.. Atmospheric carbon dioxide variations. c.. Volcanic eruptions d.. Variations in solar output. Figure 7y-1 illustrates the basic components that influence the state of the Earth's climatic system. Changes in the state of this system can occur externally (from extraterrestrial systems) or internally (from ocean, atmosphere and land systems) through any one of the described components. For example, an external change may involve a variation in the sun's output which would externally vary the amount of solar radiation received by the Earth's atmosphere and surface. Internal variations in the Earth's climatic system may be caused by changes in the concentrations of atmospheric gases, mountain building, volcanic activity, and changes in surface or atmospheric albedo.
Variations in the Earth's Orbital Characteristics The Milankovitch theory suggests that normal cyclical variations in three of the Earth's orbital characteristics is probably responsible for some past climatic change. The basic idea behind this theory assumes that over time these three cyclic events vary the amount of solar radiation that is received on the Earth's surface.
The first cyclical variation, known as eccentricity, controls the shape of the Earth's orbit around the sun. The orbit gradually changes from being elliptical to being nearly circular and then back to elliptical in a period of about 100,000 years. The greater the eccentricity of the orbit (i.e., the more elliptical it is), the greater the variation in solar energy received at the top of the atmosphere between the Earth's closest (perihelion) and farthest (aphelion) approach to the sun. Currently, the Earth is experiencing a period of low eccentricity. The difference in the Earth's distance from the sun between perihelion and aphelion (which is only about 3 %) is responsible for approximately a 7 % variation in the amount of solar energy received at the top of the atmosphere. When the difference in this distance is at its maximum (9 %), the difference in solar energy received is about 20 %.
The second cyclical variation results from the fact that, as the Earth rotates on its polar axis, it wobbles like a spinning top changing the orbital timing of the equinoxes and solstices (see Figure 7y-2 below). This effect is known as the precession of the equinox. The precession of the equinox has a cycle of approximately 26,000 years. According to illustration A, the Earth is closer to the sun in January (perihelion) and farther away in July (aphelion) at the present time. Because of precession, the reverse will be true in 13,000 years and the Earth will then be closer to the sun in July (illustration B). This means, of course, that if everything else remains constant, 13,000 years from now seasonal variations in the Northern Hemisphere should be greater than at present (colder winters and warmer summers) because of the closer proximity of the Earth to the sun.
Variations in the Earth's Orbital Characteristics The Milankovitch theory suggests that normal cyclical variations in three of the Earth's orbital characteristics is probably responsible for some past climatic change. The basic idea behind this theory assumes that over time these three cyclic events vary the amount of solar radiation that is received on the Earth's surface.
The first cyclical variation, known as eccentricity, controls the shape of the Earth's orbit around the sun. The orbit gradually changes from being elliptical to being nearly circular and then back to elliptical in a period of about 100,000 years. The greater the eccentricity of the orbit (i.e., the more elliptical it is), the greater the variation in solar energy received at the top of the atmosphere between the Earth's closest (perihelion) and farthest (aphelion) approach to the sun. Currently, the Earth is experiencing a period of low eccentricity. The difference in the Earth's distance from the sun between perihelion and aphelion (which is only about 3 %) is responsible for approximately a 7 % variation in the amount of solar energy received at the top of the atmosphere. When the difference in this distance is at its maximum (9 %), the difference in solar energy received is about 20 %.
The second cyclical variation results from the fact that, as the Earth rotates on its polar axis, it wobbles like a spinning top changing the orbital timing of the equinoxes and solstices (see Figure 7y-2 below). This effect is known as the precession of the equinox. The precession of the equinox has a cycle of approximately 26,000 years. According to illustration A, the Earth is closer to the sun in January (perihelion) and farther away in July (aphelion) at the present time. Because of precession, the reverse will be true in 13,000 years and the Earth will then be closer to the sun in July (illustration B). This means, of course, that if everything else remains constant, 13,000 years from now seasonal variations in the Northern Hemisphere should be greater than at present (colder winters and warmer summers) because of the closer proximity of the Earth to the sun.
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Variations
Studies of long term climate change have discovered a connection between the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and mean global temperature. Carbon dioxide is one of the more important gases responsible for the greenhouse effect. Certain atmospheric gases, like carbon dioxide, water vapor and methane, are able to alter the energy balance of the Earth by being able to absorb longwave radiation emitted from the Earth's surface. The net result of this process and the re-emission of longwave back to the Earth's surface increases the quantity of heat energy in the Earth's climatic system. Without the greenhouse effect, the average global temperature of the Earth would be a cold -18° Celsius rather than the present 15° Celsius.
Researchers of the 1970s CLIMAP project found strong evidence in deep-ocean sediments of variations in the Earth's global temperature during the past SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS of the Earth's history. Other subsequent studies have confirmed these findings and have discovered that these temperature variations were closely correlated to the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and variations in solar radiation received by the planet as controlled by the Milankovitch cycles. Measurements indicated that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were about 30 % lower during colder glacial periods. It was also theorized that the oceans were a major store of carbon dioxide and that they controlled the movement of this gas to and from the atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide that can be held in oceans is a function of temperature. Carbon dioxide is released from the oceans when global temperatures become warmer and diffuses into the ocean when temperatures are cooler. Initial changes in global temperature were triggered by changes in received solar radiation by the Earth through the Milankovitch cycles. The increase in carbon dioxide then amplified the global warming by enhancing the greenhouse effect.
Volcanic Eruptions
For many years, climatologists have noticed a connection between large explosive volcanic eruptions and short term climatic change (Figure 7y-4). For example, one of the coldest years in the last two centuries occurred the year following the Tambora volcanic eruption in 1815. Accounts of very cold weather were documented in the year following this eruption in a number of regions across the planet. Several other major volcanic events also show a pattern of cooler global temperatures lasting 1 to 3 years after their eruption
At first, scientists thought that the dust emitted into the atmosphere from large volcanic eruptions was responsible for the cooling by partially blocking the transmission of solar radiation to the Earth's surface. However, measurements indicate that most of the dust thrown in the atmosphere returned to the Earth's surface within six months. Recent stratospheric data suggests that large explosive volcanic eruptions also eject large quantities of sulfur dioxide gas which remains in the atmosphere for as long as three years. Atmospheric chemists have determined that the ejected sulfur dioxide gas reacts with water vapor commonly found in the stratosphere to form a dense optically bright haze layer that reduces the atmospheric transmission of some of the sun's incoming radiation.
In the last century, two significant climate modifying eruptions have occurred. El Chichon in Mexico erupted in April of 1982, and Mount Pinatubo went off in the Philippines during June, 1991 (Figure 7y-5). Of these two volcanic events, Mount Pinatubo had a greater effect on the Earth's climate and ejected about 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere (Figure 7y-6). Researchers believe that the Pinatubo eruption was primarily responsible for the 0.8 degree Celsius drop in global average air temperature in 1992. The global climatic effects of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo are believed to have peaked in late 1993. Satellite data confirmed the connection between the Mount Pinatubo eruption and the global temperature decrease in 1992 and 1993. The satellite data indicated that the sulfur dioxide plume from the eruption caused a several percent increase in the amount of sunlight reflected by the Earth's atmosphere back to space causing the surface of the planet to cool.
Variations in Solar Output
Until recently, many scientists thought that the sun's output of radiation only varied by a fraction of a percent over many years. However, measurements made by satellites equipped with radiometers in the 1980s and
1990s suggested that the sun's energy output may be more variable than was once thought (Figure 7y-7). Measurements made during the early 1980s showed a decrease of 0.1 percent in the total amount of solar energy reaching the Earth over just an 18 month time period. If this trend were to extend over several decades, it could influence global climate. Numerical climatic models predict that a change in solar output of only 1 percent per century would alter the Earth's average temperature by between 0.5 to 1.0° Celsius.Scientists have long tried to also link sunspots to climatic change (also see the link
During periods of maximum sunspot activity, the sun's magnetic field is strong. When sunspot activity is low, the sun's magnetic field weakens. The magnetic field of the sun also reverses every 22 years, during a sunspot minimum. Some scientists believe that the periodic droughts on the Great Plains of the United States are in someway correlated with this 22 year cycle.
mike hunt
I'm truly sorry you feel that way. My intention was not to 'troll', I had just seen something I thought powerful and thought provoking, and I wanted to share it with the group.
Rob Stokes wrote:
Apparently my automatic spellchecker liked manuals better than 'mannals' when I missed the M. I never proof read, there are plenty in the NGs willing to do that for me ;)
mike hunt
Well, in terms of "Think Globally, Act Locally" I like the idea--as strange as it sounds--of a community in Europe "saving" their local glacier (small community, small glacier) from melting away completely by putting an insulating blanket on it during summer. Something I learned from listening to "As It Happens" on CBC-Radio
Jim Bartley on PEI
"oh well, even a stopped clock (or two) can be correct twice a day" The political pendulum, left-right-left-right-you are getting sleepy....
politicians of any stripe are just like clocks...they never stop TOCing, and if they do, you find out that they are all TICS!
Jim Bartley on PEI
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