Quote:
Originally Posted by ASU2003
So, what is your prediction for what will happen to the planet temperature wise in the next 50 years? You can't use any previous temperature data before satellites were launched that can measure surface temperature globally (I don't trust ice core temps because I think there are variables they don't account for).
|
I am not in the business of predicting the weather. I expect climate conditions on this planet today will be similar to the climate conditions 50 years from now regardless of our attempts to control CO2.
There are many questions regarding the focus on CO2 in the atmosphere. Our atmosphere is 99% nitrogen and oxygen. The remaining 1%, greenhouse gases, is mostly comprised of H2O or water ranging between 40% to 70%. CO2 is next ranging between 9% and 26% of the greenhouse gases, but the planet has seen bigger percentage increases in other greenhouse gases, such as methane. So, assuming we could control for these variables and develop a predictive model - why do we believe manipulating CO2 will have a bigger impact than manipulating the other variables. Perhaps the fact that we irrigate deserts has a bigger impact on climate change than all the CO2 output caused by industrial use. We don't know and some of us ask questions. And some of us don't ask questions for some reason. I think we want to get it right if we do have the control we think we have.
Quote:
If it gets warmer will things just adapt to the higher temperatures, or will major numbers of people and animals (that you may or may not care for) not be able to live in the new environment? Will something like the dust bowl happen again in the midwest/Southern CA/AZ?
|
The Dust Bowl was a localized phenomenon caused in part by short-sighted farming techniques, however it serves as an example of how the earth can recover. Nature requires adaptability.
Quote:
Be sure to include what will happen if there are major droughts and flooding, or don't you think they will happen.
|
The planet in localized areas has a history of these things happening for many reasons not related to human activities. Beavers have caused large areas of land to flood, but through those floods a different ecosystem develops. I don't see these conditions as the "doom and gloom" predictions by people like Al Gore. If the climate is going to change I suspect the change to be gradual, unless there is a true catastrophic event.
Quote:
What happens when the fish die off because algae have grown too fast or diseases kill off trees because the winters don't kill them? How should the human population deal with or not deal with the increasing solar radiation, volcanos, and sun spots that might really cause a heat wave? How much of an impact will the other pollutants that get released through the burning of fossil fuels have on the world?
|
I tend not to watch those kind of movies.
If you get snow bound over the next few days - I recommend "The Maltese Falcon" with Humphrey Bogart and some of his other movies. I also suggest warm freshly baked brownies with nuts, comfy couch, wood fire in the fire place, a soft comfortable blanket, and your favorite person. Oh, and unplug the phone. Then you won't care if increasing solar radiation, volcano, and sun spots cause a heat wave that will cause polar bears to mutate and attack the people of Japan causing them to call on Godzilla once again to save the planet.
Quote:
Should we just do nothing and give money to oil, coal, and other polluting companies?
|
No, no, no, please send your money to me.