[Phys-L] Re: [Political Action] The nature of the lack of proof (climate warming)

[dtmarx at ILSTU.EDU (David T. Marx)]

I have spent two semesters (Fall 2003 and Fall 2004) reviewing the peer-reviewed literature (over
600 articles) on global warming with over 100 students.  The students were asked to focus on
articles that actually measured a physical parameter to determine whether global warming (an
increase in the average temperature of the earth) is occurring.  Their task is to evaluate the
articles for themselves and come to their own conclusions.  The majority of students in the final
discussion come to the conclusion that it is not occuring.

I also fail to see anything that says that it is occurring to any extent.  My impression is that
the Earth's climate is not, and has not, been static.  What we do see is that in the 1990s, there
were temperature increases, but there was also a decrease in albedo and and increase in solar
output during this same time frame.

We also note that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased about 30% in the
past one hundred years.  Yet, we find that the average air and ice temperatures of the arctic, as
recorded by 75 remote, distributed stations over the past 125 years, has increased by between 0.03 -
 0.08 degrees celsius, with more significant temperature fluctuations over that same period.

We acknowledge that glaciers have undergone significant melting over the past two decades, but
there doesn't seem to be a corresponding increase in the local temperatures in those regions.  Some
researchers have examined the deposition of pollutants (soot) on these glaciers as a possible
cause.

There is some melting in the Antarctic, but this seems to be more correlated with observed changes
in oceanic currents, than with any change in temperature.

If anyone can point me to some physical evidence of global warming, I would be interested.





> Again - I'll bite - Which is the nonsense? Crichton's novel or
> the SSI plan to fill our local "letters to the editor" pages with
> their screed?
>
> Bob at PC
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Forum for Physics Educators [mailto:PHYS-
> > L@list1.ucc.nau.edu] On Behalf Of Bernard Cleyet
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 2:10 PM
> > To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
> > Subject: [Political Action] The nature of the lack of proof
> (climate
> > warming)
> >
> > As long as it can't be proved, as well as the earth is not
> flat, we'll
> > have this nonsense.
> >
> >  From the Sound Science Initiative people:
> >
> > excerpt below;  for the site:
> >
> > http://www.ucsusa.org/news/commentary.cfm?newsID=442
> >
> >
> > bc
> >
> > ******************  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  ******************
> >
> > ISSUE: The newly released Michael Crichton novel, "State of
> > Fear," is based on the premise that global warming is simply
> > a scare tactic, promoted by environmentalists and many
> > scientists eager to raise money for their work and draw
> > attention to their organizations. The author goes beyond his
> > novel's premise by including a personal message and a
> > reference section supporting his personal view that global
> > warming is a highly speculative theory. An AP wire story
> > from Sunday has been picked up around the country. Other
> > papers are likely to run book reviews soon.
> >
> > ACTION: Send a letter-to-the-editor if a news story or book
> > review appears in your local paper.
> >
> > MAIN MESSAGE: Michael Crichton readers can enjoy his new
> > science-fiction thriller while keeping in mind that he is a
> > novelist and medical doctor, not a climate scientist. Most
> > of us read novels for pleasure and seek advice from medical
> > experts on health. For advice on the Earth's climate, we
> > should rely on the experts who have carefully studied this
> > issue. The vast majority of climate scientists have
> > concluded that the Earth is warming, that human activity is
> > a primary cause, and that we can avoid the most severe
> > impacts by reducing our emissions of carbon dioxide and
> > other heat-trapping gases.
> >
> > DEADLINE: Your letter to the editor should reach your paper
> > as soon as possible after publication of the story to
> > increase the chances of it being published.
> >
> >                   ******************************************
> >
> > *** THE ISSUE ***
> >
> > Many of you may have already heard about Michael Crichton's
> > new novel "State of Fear." In it the "bad guys" are
> > environmentalists and scientists involved in a global
> >
> > cut