cool

[caspian_x]

No, really. Cool.

Harshest winter in years (in 100 years in China).
Returning Arctic Sea ice (thicker than before).
Incomplete climate models (that don't account for wind).
Record solar inactivity (least activity in 150 years).

Too bad the debate on global warming is over.

Comments

[resk]

Too bad the debate on global warming is over.

It is?

My understanding is that global climate change spawns extreme weather, of varying temperatures.

[k_sui]

It is only if you wish to mindlessly ape the vast right-wing conspiracy. Because, of course, any check or second thoughts on the resource-intensive American lifestyle must be sheer lunacy put out by the same "scientists" who have the temerity to question any one of the 58 different theories of Creationisim.

Also copied from my reply in my own entry ;)

[thebruce0]

And one wonders why more GWers don't use that argument more often! I've repeatedly thought that to myself.

The thing about this article is that it's using a logical argument - the claims for global warming have primarily been the onset of unusually warmer climates, in so many words. So, by the same logic, one could also claim the onset of a new iceage due to the number of research points listed in the article, not the least of which is record lows all over the place.

While it's not a scientific paper refuting the claim to global warming, it is an opinion piece citing results opposite one would expect in the often touted global warming scenario, and actually indicitive of the polar opposite (pun!) to global warming.

Anyhow, one would be equally dumb to say there is no climate change whatsoever. The arguments against global warming are (or should be) of the political variety. Global warming is not as severe and urgent as GWers like to claim, and even if it were, it's not worth ruining our economy over; the tradeoff just isn't

Re: Also copied from my reply in my own entry ;)

[clayfoot]

Meh. The references the piece uses are shaky. I've started linking them separately, below. Kenneth Tapping is the best source, IMHO.

[thebruce0]

hah, love it. going to re-post ;)

[ubersaurus]

Of course, the ice is still only growing in certain areas. Overall the arctic sea is still losing more ice every year.

As for the winter, global warming doesn't preclude harsh winters. It makes them less likely, but since when have we been any good at predicting the weather? Summers are still getting hotter...weather's just getting more extreme in general. Hell, weather patterns are changing as rainfall shifts to different regions. Which, as I understand it, is expected by global warming.

[clayfoot]

I think this is the original source for the quote by the Canadian Ice Service. They're hoping the ice will rebound in thickness and in coverage sufficiently to compensate for the summer of 2007's record low coverage.

Ocean circulation in a warming climate

[clayfoot]

by J. R. Toggweiler & Joellen Russell

I believe this is the original reference for the effect of wind on ocean currents:

Nature

So far as I can tell, the only reference it makes to man made climate change is with respect to the rate of ocean temperate change and to the effect of the ozone hole on how temperatures change in different hemispheres.