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by Jim100 on December 25th, 2006

Jim100

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What caused the 'global warming' between all the ice ages before mankind came on board?

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  • by -Ben 10- on December 31st, 2006

    -Ben 10-

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming#Greenhouse_gases_in_the_atmosphere


    The climate system varies both through natural, "internal" processes as well as in response to variations in external "forcing" from both human and non-human causes, including solar activity, volcanic emissions, and greenhouse gases. Climatologists agree that the earth has warmed recently. The detailed causes of this change remain an active field of research, but the scientific consensus identifies greenhouse gases as the primary cause of the recent warming. Outside of the scientific community, however, this conclusion can be controversial.

    Adding carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4) to Earth's atmosphere, with no other changes, will make the planet's surface warmer; greenhouse gases create a natural greenhouse effect without which temperatures on Earth would be an estimated 30 °C (54 °F) lower, and the Earth uninhabitable. It is therefore not correct to say that there is a debate between those who "believe in" and "oppose" the theory that adding carbon dioxide or methane to the Earth's atmosphere will, absent any mitigating actions or effects, result in warmer surface temperatures on Earth. Rather, the debate is about what the net effect of the addition of carbon dioxide and methane will be, when allowing for compounding or mitigating factors.

    One example of an important feedback process is ice-albedo feedback. The increased CO2 in the atmosphere warms the Earth's surface and leads to melting of ice near the poles. As the ice melts, land or open water takes its place. Both land and open water are less reflective than ice, and so absorb more solar radiation. This causes more warming, which in turn causes more melting, and the cycle continues.

    Due to the thermal inertia of the earth's oceans and slow responses of other indirect effects, the Earth's current climate is not in equilibrium with the forcing imposed by increased greenhouse gases. Climate commitment studies indicate that, even if greenhouse gases were stabilized at present day levels, a further warming of perhaps 0.5 °C to 1.0 °C (0.9–1.8 °F) would still occur

    Depending on the time frame, a number of temperature records are available based on different data sets. The longest perspective is available from various proxy records for recent millennia; see temperature record of the past 1000 years for a discussion of these records and their differences. An approximately global instrumental record of temperature near the earth's surface begins in about 1860. Global observations of the atmosphere well above the earth's surface using data from radiosondes began shortly after World War II. Satellite temperature measurements of the tropospheric temperature date from 1979. The attribution of recent climate change is clearest for the most recent period of the last 50 years, for which the most detailed data are available.

    Depending on the time frame, a number of temperature records are available based on different data sets. The longest perspective is available from various proxy records for recent millennia; see temperature record of the past 1000 years for a discussion of these records and their differences. An approximately global instrumental record of temperature near the earth's surface begins in about 1860. Global observations of the atmosphere well above the earth's surface using data from radiosondes began shortly after World War II. Satellite temperature measurements of the tropospheric temperature date from 1979. The attribution of recent climate change is clearest for the most recent period of the last 50 years, for which the most detailed data are available.

    Comments

    • I Think you pasted the last paragraph twice(because I actually read it all).. hmmm. anyway there are some words I have not seen here before. I wonder why I have heard that the average temp of the planet has not actually risen at all outside of 1 degree. I think we forget how COLD it was in Europe last year. I would hate to bet anyone on what would be said by people from Europe if asked if they believed it is getting warmer. I gave u points because you have points I have not seen before, and have some merrit intelectually. Thanks!

      Jim100

      by Jim100 on December 31st, 2006

    • Climate change is not a matter of belief. It is not a religion, nor is it subject to differing political views. Polar ice is melting, no matter what the politicians say. As Stephen Colbert said in his White House Correspondents' Dinner speech: "Mr. President, reality has a well-known liberal bias."

      The arctic ice levels are at a record low since the days of the Vikings. The Northwest Passage is finally open to commercial shipping.

      "Sought by explorers for centuries as a possible trade route, it was first navigated by Roald Amundsen in 1903–1906. Until 2009, the Arctic pack ice prevented regular marine shipping throughout most of the year, but climate change has reduced the pack ice, and this Arctic shrinkage made the waterways more navigable."
      . . .
      "On November 28, 2008, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Canadian Coast Guard confirmed the first commercial ship sailed through the Northwest Passage. In September 2008, the MV Camilla Desgagnés ...transported cargo from Montreal to the hamlets of Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak. ... This is the first time that the western communities have been serviced from the east."

      http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/105975#postcomment222536

      Quick! Somebody notify Senator James Inhofe (R, OK) and the FoxNews Network! :)

      Mr_Natural Abstractor of the Quintessence

      by Mr_Natural Abstractor of the Quintessence on January 3rd, 2010

    • Oops. The link I posted above is incorrect. I meant to post a link to the Wikipedia article, "Northwest Passage":
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage#Effects_of_climate_change

      I would correct my previous comment but the AB staff do not permit editing our comments.

      Mr_Natural Abstractor of the Quintessence

      by Mr_Natural Abstractor of the Quintessence on January 3rd, 2010

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