Re: [Phys-L] just for fun?

[Richard Tarara <rtarara@saintmarys.edu>]

Sorry if I'm too stupid to see that if A happens first then B happens is 
exactly the same as if B happens first then A happens, which seems to be 
your reading of the historical data which is what one would have to 
believe to be satisfied with Gore's presentation.  Fine...I give up (but 
you might want to watch the film again ;-) )

rwt


On 1/4/2014 1:39 PM, John Denker wrote:
> On 01/04/2014 09:29 AM, Richard Tarara wrote:
> > [The bottom line is that looking at this point makes it look like
> > Gore outright lied in his use of the historical data graphs which
> > gives people a excuse for ignoring everything else he said.
> I've gotta call BS on that.
>
> a) The fact is, humans are dumping a lot of CO2 into the
>   atmosphere.
>
> b) The fact is, there is a causal relationship between CO2
>   and climate change.
>
> c) The fact is, there is a perceptible correlation in the
>   data.
>
>   Note: Correlation is not proof of causation.  However
>    -- It is not the only evidence we have.
>    -- It serves as an illustration of the relationship.
>
>   A cowbell is not the same as a cow, but it may help you
>   find the cow.
>
> d) If Al Gore had said that CO2 levels explain every detail
>   of the temperature record, that would have been a stupid
>   thing to say ... but AFAICT he never said that, so what's
>   your problem?
>
> e) If Al Gore had said that CO2/temperature correlation was
>   the only evidence -- or even the best evidence -- of
>   anthropogenic climate change, that would have been a stupid
>   thing to say ... but AFAICT he never said that, so what's
>   your problem?

--
Richard Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College

free Physics educational software
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html