Both sides of the issue are into a full PR mode. Science has taken a back seat to unsubstantiated statements, talking points, and sound bites. Curious as to who PAID to put this one together. No pure science on EITHER side any more. All politics.
'Times in Earth's history were there was 10x as much CO2 in the atmosphere'
- Yes, particularly the Precambrian period, 4.5 billion years ago to about 570 million years ago. No oxygen producing life in great numbers. No life in great numbers for that matter, beyond single cell organisms. Out gassing and impactors from volcanoes and comets creating oceans, seas, and early, mostly CO2, atmosphere. Much less solar output much of the time too.
'previous warming periods correspond with times of riches'
- ah... so a Earth getting warmer is now a 'Good Thing'. Never mind that the world's population is far higher now than then, and concentrated along the world's coast lines. That we're not primarily an agrarian society.
At least there is nothing I saw that claimed that the Earth wasn't getting warmer. I guess that claim is too hard to sell these days.
'Two ways to take Earth temperature: weather balloon, and satellites'
- and pretty soon limited to weather balloons, as the Earth observation satellite programs are in a large part being such down and not replaced as they end their program lifetimes.
'we're made out of carbon dioxide' (?Thought we were made up mostly of water?)
- It's all good!
'whole clouds discussion - ie cloud formation numbers due to cosmic rays'
- how the heck is the local solar wind, due to solar output, going to effect energetic cosmic rays; that argument I find very very weak. Maybe effects to the Earth's magnetic field? That one was just very poorly done.
- did not touch at all about the increase in cloud formations world-wide due to airliner contrails. Does not touch on the increase on cloud formation in Pacific NW due to pollutants coming from China.
So: short story = Earth is getting warmer (but not as bad as some claim), but it's not our fault, so there is no need to worry about anything. Carbon dioxide is good. A warmer Earth is a good thing. Don't worry, be happy. Ergo, no reason to do anything about anything.
Curious: Do those who argue against global warming and taking preventative measures also dispute the warnings about the coming Oil Shock due to decreasing primary energy reserves and the argument that we need to develop alternative energy sources?
I'll just take the stance I did for Y2K. Keep my powder dry and be prepared to go all barbarian if it becomes the best course to follow.
