Conflict over whether the world is warming or cooling is in full force. It appears to be a political rallying point. The reality is that for most of us it is a real coin toss. Me, I try to focus on pollution...cause I know our pollution is bad, and I can't really prove warming or cooling.
For the moment however let's consider the history of the world, and what we know about the cycle that the earth has gone through for millions of years. Most of us learned in our early grades that there were ice ages...that means cold. As it turns out there have been several ice ages with massive ice drifts that pressed down through all of our regions...cutting river valleys, like the Hudson river gorge in New York State. The Ice Ages were real, and at points the entire world, save a few volcanic hot spots, was covered with a thick sheet of ice, hundreds of feet to thousands of feet...in motion, crushing weight and pressure...now that's global cooling.
Today our winters seem colder...as compared to the past few decades...but geologic terms don't care much for short stretches of time...decades are hardly noticed. Ice ages last centuries, that's plural. So a few degrees and increased snow pack this year and last make little difference, nor do excessive heat...as experienced in the summer of 2010. The Russians believe there is climate change going on based on 115* summers and dead crops... perhaps it is.
Ok, so there have been changes to the worlds weather in the past few years...are these demonstrating new trends...maybe, but are they a short lived cycle or part of something much broader? Guess we will have to keep watching. In the mean time...how about we try to reduce pollution so we can make water and air easier to use...you know, that human needs thing.
Cooling: http://www.isthereglobalcooling.com/
Warming: http://www.globalissues.org/issues/178/climate-change-and-global-warming
For the moment however let's consider the history of the world, and what we know about the cycle that the earth has gone through for millions of years. Most of us learned in our early grades that there were ice ages...that means cold. As it turns out there have been several ice ages with massive ice drifts that pressed down through all of our regions...cutting river valleys, like the Hudson river gorge in New York State. The Ice Ages were real, and at points the entire world, save a few volcanic hot spots, was covered with a thick sheet of ice, hundreds of feet to thousands of feet...in motion, crushing weight and pressure...now that's global cooling.
Today our winters seem colder...as compared to the past few decades...but geologic terms don't care much for short stretches of time...decades are hardly noticed. Ice ages last centuries, that's plural. So a few degrees and increased snow pack this year and last make little difference, nor do excessive heat...as experienced in the summer of 2010. The Russians believe there is climate change going on based on 115* summers and dead crops... perhaps it is.
Ok, so there have been changes to the worlds weather in the past few years...are these demonstrating new trends...maybe, but are they a short lived cycle or part of something much broader? Guess we will have to keep watching. In the mean time...how about we try to reduce pollution so we can make water and air easier to use...you know, that human needs thing.
Cooling: http://www.isthereglobalcooling.com/
Warming: http://www.globalissues.org/issues/178/climate-change-and-global-warming
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