Whether you buy into Al Gore’s spiel or not (admittedly, I’m one of those who can’t see how anyone can deny the global warming issue exists), here’s an interesting point to consider, which comes to me by way of a coworker:
Here in Colorado it will approach 100 degrees this week. This type of heat was uncommon in this area as recently as a decade ago, as demonstrated by the fact that houses built in this area more than ten years ago tend to not come equipped with central air conditioning. Nowadays it is ridiculous to think of buying a house without central air.
I find nothing online to back up this observation with hard data, but it is interesting anecdotal evidence.
Of course, the fact that using something like central air conditioning contributes to the problem is not lost on me…
I for one think global warming is real…as part of a natural, and cyclical, event. It was hotter in the 40s and 50s, colder in the 60s and 70s, then hotter in the 90s and Oughts. I think it is the height of human arrogance to think that we can have such an effect on something like the earth, which can spank us like bad children if it feels like it (see hurricanes, earthquakes, et al.) The thing is, if we the people were causing global warming, it has become so political that there is no way to get into meaningful discussion without people getting silly - on both sides of the “debate”.
To more directly address the issue you raise (although I don’t have any hard references): anectodal evidence does’na work, because measurements have determined that global temperature has risen maybe .5-1.0 degree Celsius since we started burning fossil fuels, which is mad undetectable by people.
“it has become so political that there is no way to get into meaningful discussion without people getting silly” — Yeah, agreed.
Your point about anecdotal evidence is also well taken. I was at least hoping to find a chart demonstrating a temperature swing, be it part of a larger cycle or not.
Not to get into crazy shite, but my feelings about abortion are thus: when a child becomes self-aware, then abortion is wrong. How will we ever know? Science could probably determine the approximate timeframe (between the 5th and 6th month of pregnancy…), but politics would get in the way hellaciously and skew things to the extreme left (earlier, when a sperm finds the egg) or right (later, when the kid goes to school). Too bad.
Back to the weather: It’s funny. When I used to listen to Howie Cahh on WRKO, middle-aged ladies would call and say that there had to be global warming, because it is wikkid hot now, and when they were kids they could go out in the summer and not even sweat. They could never figure that maybe it’s because they’ve been house-bound recluses for 30 years, and they spent every waking hour outdoors for 2 months at a stretch when they were kids. I could make the argument that Hawaii must have gotten dramatically less humid over the past half-decade, because I used to sweat like a mofo in 80-degree weather, and now I wear jeans and a long-sleeve tee if it is cooler than 90 degrees.
I’m not slagging you off, BTW. It might seem like the above is comparing you to cranky hausfraus, and for that I apologize. Cities in particular are interesting on the microcosm level. The more concrete and roofing in a small area changes the dynamics of that area drastically. Is it albumen or something? I can’t remember. It’s been years since I took me required Geology/Earth Science courses. So I’ll agree: there can be area-specific weather changes due to human development, but the jury is still out on any planet-wide effect.
I base all my environmental beliefs on The Day After Tomorrow, anyway, so whatever…
Truth be told (and I wanted the post to convey this), I don’t consider myself educated enough to debate the subject. There are much smarter people to do that for me. I also recognize myself for the hypocrite I am — I still drive my SUV even though I’m willing to pay extra for electricity from a wind farm. Such is the paradox of modern living.
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/walterwilliams/2006/06/07/200020.html
eighth paragraph.
Yeah, well, gravity ain’t real either.