Is It Getting Warmer?

Times Online – May 18, 2007

The oceans are the biggest sink of carbon dioxide.  The ability for them to absorb CO2 is a topic that is discussed often in the scientific periodicals.

This article covers a scientific study which concludes that the oceans are slowing down in the absorption of CO2 gas. This is a danger as CO2 is one of the greenhouse gases and if its concentration increases too dramatically there could be more heat captured into the atmosphere, increasing the temperature of the globe.

The oceans are losing the capacity to soak up rising man-made carbon emissions, which is increasing the rate of global warming by up to 30 per cent, scientists said  Read more... (407 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Weather science

This is a very interesting blog entry. I haven’t been able to find further evidence of the claim aside from the CNN story that the blog references. Rather than quoting the CNN story though, I thought it was more interesting to read the thoughts of the author of the blog especially since the title of the blog is “Classically Liberal” but the stance is not typical of a liberal in the US political scene.

The author begins by describing multiple references to snow disappearing on Kilimanjaro but then proceeds to ridicule these references by citing the CNN story. For the purposes of this entry, I will focus on the new claims and leave it to you to click through to the entire treatment.  Read more... (490 words, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)

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Filed under: Not getting warmer

San Jose Mercury News – June 1, 2007

This is a difficult situation. I really don’t want to condemn having a carbon trading program but the reality is that what we have today is not well done. If we are going to trade emissions, it needs to be extremely verifiable, under penalty of law with huge financial loss, and that the trades actually reduce the pollution of the atmosphere.

I suggest that these programs be held to the same standard that the SEC runs. In fact, I see nothing wrong with the charter of the SEC being expanded to govern this type of effort. The trading of emissions should be held on the books of public companies and it would need to be proven that the trading partner really had something to trade. If, after audit by a 3rd party, it was found that the value of the trade was less than the company accounted for then they would have to pay a penalty.  Read more... (432 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Politics

Plenty Magazine – May 23, 2007

This is a sad article if it is true. Evidently several species of frogs have become extinct and some scientists believe that this extinction was caused by global warming. While I am well aware that certain amphibians (esp. frogs) are very susceptible to changes in their environment, I am concerned that this article does not live up to the burden of proof.

A few of my concerns:  Read more... (545 words, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)

• Global warming should be more accurately termed “Northern Hemisphere Warming” since much of the measured increase was in the northern half of the planet. Costa Rica is very close to the equator – what was the increase in temperature for Costa Rica in the last 50 years? We really do not need to worry about average global temperatures if we are discussing the effect on a species that is very local.

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Filed under: Getting warmer

Newsday.com – April 29, 2007

Okay, I admit it.  I am a relative softy. I read this personal editorial by a college sophomore and I felt a little pride in our human race. Not that I agreed with everything she said (more on that later) but simply that she was being active in her community and doing her best to understand and communicate a position. I think if more people thought intensely on a certain issue and took a position, the world would be a better place.

All that being said, I would like to point out a few things in her otherwise excellent article that bother me.  Read more... (692 words, estimated 2:46 mins reading time)

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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault