Christmas and global warming

I have to say that I’m ambivalent about global warming. Intuitively, it seems to make sense, but why the cliimategate cover-ups? Also, wasn’t the next ice age being heralded a few decaes ago? If those weren’t enough to make you question global warming, we have some people espousing ideas that are just insane.

Two of my favorites appeared this week. The first suggests moving to a global policy of allowing couples to have just one child. Sure, you may love your kids, but their birth is causing the Earth to warm. At some point, they will surely be the death of us! Now, there might be two feet of snow outside your house, but trust them: The little tikes are warming the planet. » read more

Climategate makes me wonder: What happened to the ice age?

Global warming or an impending ice age? Scientists have flip-flopped over the last few decades.

Is global warming real? I’m not sure any more. If you asked me a year or two ago, I would have tended to agree that there was something to it. The facts didn’t seem to be fully understood, but intuitively, it seemed to be something that deserved careful consideration. Of course, the research and its interpretation seemed to be hijacked by the political left, which put findings on a pedestal and would shout down anyone who questioned the results. If you know anything about science, you know how important it is to have findings constantly questioned through empirical research, then evaluated by the larger scientific community.

Many climatologists seem more inclined to jump on the global warming than take time to question findings and risk being ostracized by their colleagues and the political left. In light of climategate, which showed that high-level researches might have suppressed data and altered findings, a need to reexamine the validity of these studies is necessary. If history is any guide, it’s better to start this process sooner than later. If you don’t believe me, just look at the history of climate research. In the 1970′s the scientific community overwhelmingly supported the idea that the Earth was cooling, and that another ice age was approaching.

Climate researchers will tell you that you need to look at the long-term data when studying climate change, not just the last few years. If that’s the case, then how can two groups of distinguished scientists come up with such different results in a historically short period of time? The fact that there is disagreement doesn’t end the argument, since disagreement exists in many areas of science. The disturbing aspect is the group-think which characterizes a great deal of climate research.

Is global warming real? Is the Earth getting warmer? It’s certainly possible, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it were true. The problem is that we have found out recently that research was corrupted at a very high level. I would have more faith in the findings if dissenting voices weren’t silenced, findings were reevaluated objectively, and those responsible for doctoring data were ostracized by the scientific community and removed from their positions. Only then can we hope to discover some semblance of truth.