Unfortunately, the items that you cite prove very little. In fact, the pattern’s that you cite aren’t really patterns at all but rather variations that are well within statistical variation of weather. Also, showing an isolated event does nothing to prove causation and that is the true discussion. Global warming could very well be occurring (I don’t discount that possibility) but the evidence provided by the scientific community is far from certain and any causation analysis is even less certain. Therefore this entire discussion (with today’s verifiable data) is an opinion and Mr. Lutz is definitely allowed his opinion.

Right now, opinions don’t matter. As regular readers to this site have read multiple times, what we need is better science so that we can eliminate much of the conjecture and guessing that is part of this discussion.

The facts of Global Warming are not “an opinion poll”. But, the ability to motivate government policy, to help sway political leaders to actually look at the facts and take action does relate to “opinion polls”.

Electing politicians who will actually respect science and scientific opinion relies on something that is, in essence, an opinion poll.

And, well, the science is convincing. The models are not perfect — absolutely not. However, their problems are as much (if not more) on the negative side (e.g, not accounting for positive feedback loops) as in any overestimation of the problems.

Simply look at what is happening in the real world, the pattern of temperatures, Arctic ice shelf extent year-to-year, changing animal/plant patterns, etc … Are you actually suggesting that there is a serious reason to question whether there is Global Warming?

And, are you so into delaying action to deal with Global Warming that you will deny humanity having a major role in driving the warming.

Opinions matter to making policy.

And, the science is far stronger than your loose words suggest.

Now, to be fair, the sentence that you quote from my (second) post on this controversy is directly responding to something that Lutz wrote.

Lutz: “My opinions on the subject — like anyone’s — are immaterial.”

Me: “Wow, time to get rid of public opinion polls. No, Bob, that is not the case. Opinions coming from leaders (and, yes, the Vice Chairman of one of the Big Three can qualify here) shape opinions. And, opinions (rephrase, ill-informed opinions) on Global Warming are influencing the US (and Global) ability to deal with this very serious challenge.”