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| Science & Technology |
| Colorado St prof disputes global warming is human-caused |
| 2006-09-20 |
| Global warming is happening, but humans are not the cause, one of the nation’s top experts on hurricanes said Monday morning. Bill Gray, who has studied tropical meteorology for more than 40 years, spoke at the Larimer County Republican Club Breakfast about global warming and whether humans are to blame. About 50 people were at the talk. Gray, who is a professor at Colorado State University, said human-induced global warming is a fear perpetuated by the media and scientists who are trying to get federal grants. “I think we’re coming out of the little ice age, and warming is due to changes to ocean circulation patterns due to salinity variations,” Gray said. “I’m sure that’s it.” Gray’s view has been challenged, however. Roger Pielke Jr., director of the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado, said in an interview later Monday that climate scientists involved with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that most of the warming is due to human activity. “Bill Gray is a widely respected senior scientist who has a view that is out of step with a lot of his colleagues’,” Pielke said. But challenging widely held views is “good for science because it forces people to make their case and advances understanding.” “We should always listen to the minority,” said Pielke, who spoke from his office in Boulder. “But it’s prudent to take actions that both minimize human effect on the climate and also make ourselves much more resilient.” Minority? That's a joke. He means less vocal and strident. At the breakfast, Gray said Earth was warmer in some medieval periods than it is today. Current weather models are good at predicting weather as far as 10 days in advance, but predicting up to 100 years into the future is “a great act of faith, and I don’t believe any of it,” he said. But even if humans cause global warming, there’s not much people can do, Gray said. China and India will continue to pump out greenhouse gases, and alternative energy sources are expensive. “Why do it if it’s not going to make a difference anyway?” he said. “Whether I’m right or wrong, we can’t do anything about it anyway.” But Pielke said it makes sense to reduce humans’ impact on the climate. “There are uncertainties. It’s not like you change your light bulbs today, you’re going to have better weather tomorrow,” he said. “It’s even better if those actions you’re taking make sense for other reasons, like getting off Middle Eastern oil or saving money.” As for judging between the competing views, I tend to believe Michael Crichton... His speech titled "Fear, Complexity, Environmental Management in the 21st Century" (link to speeches page) makes infinitely more sense than any alGore spew. All of his speeches kick ass. |
| Posted by:Speater Flump2829 |
| #10 Planetary Socialism (Greenies) ... The death toll from each form of socialism escalates as well. The death toll in Africa from banning proper use of DDT is probably in the millions. |
| Posted by: Uleamp Slonter8657 2006-09-20 12:45 |
| #9 Yes the Baen Free Library demonstrates the TRUE EVIL of capitalism, they give you free books, which leads to you buying books and supporting their company. Baen prints most of the SF books I buy/read.:) |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2006-09-20 10:53 |
| #8 Bobby, The death toll from each form of socialism escalates as well. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles in Blairistan 2006-09-20 10:29 |
| #7 Socialism in all forms sucks and must be eradicated. Preferable violently. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-09-20 09:36 |
| #6 Interesting observation, Mr. Pebbles..... Not seen that before, but I like it! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-09-20 09:25 |
| #5 SilentBrick It's available for free online at Baen books. I read it there. National Socialism (Nazis) International Socialism (Commies) Planetary Socialism (Greenies) |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles in Blairistan 2006-09-20 08:53 |
| #4 Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Michael Flynn wrote a book called Fallen Angels, where the Greens have taken over the US and institute all sorts of insane anti-global warming policies while glaciers have overrun Canada and are invading the US. Not a serious science heavy SF book, it's still an entertaining read about what life under the greenies might be like. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2006-09-20 08:03 |
| #3 I've yet to see a single one of the "Anthropogenic Dangerous Global Warming" (ADGW) evangelists actually deal with the proven fact that there have been warmer climates than we are experiencing now more than once in human history - at times before there was any consumption of fossil fuels. The typical response is like LH's: "This time, it's different!" Which, frankly, is just magical thinking. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-09-20 07:17 |
| #2 When Gray started objecting to global wariming when Bill and Al were in office, his federal funds suddenly dried up. I thought only Bush was bad for science. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-09-20 06:21 |
| #1 I've yet to see a single one of the "Anthropogenic Dangerous Global Warming" (ADGW) evangelists actually deal with the proven fact that there have been warmer climates than we are experiencing now more than once in human history - at times before there was any consumption of fossil fuels. When Pielke says, "“But it’s prudent to take actions that both minimize human effect on the climate and also make ourselves much more resilient” he is being a bad scientist. Since we know that the climate has been as warm if not warmer than it is today in the absence of human use of fossil fuels, he is stating as fact something which is almost instantly refutable. One must therefore logically conclude that either a) he is incompetent as a scientist or b) he has an agenda to which he is purposely subverting the truth. Furthermore, we all know the means of achieving the minimalization and versatility he mentions, and it isn't the free market. It's more government, more regulation, more taxation, and a less free market. Not to mention lots of public sector gravy train money for scientists promoting ADGW. When seen in this light, the whole ADGW belief system can be summed up as consisting of two groups. The first is unscrupulous and careless scientists who have a financial stake in getting as many politicians and as large a sector of the public as possible to believe in their theories. The other is people who want a socialist and highly regulated market anyways, and, having run out of public concern for poverty, race relations, etc. as reasons to get there, see ADGW as the next cause celebre to push easliy frightened voters to support said endpoint (see Al Gore). |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2006-09-20 06:00 |