| Global warming ideas disputed by PSU prof By VICTORIA GUAY Nov 20, 2008 While a large number of people, including some scientists, believe that we are in an unprecedented period of global warming caused primarily by humans, Dr. James Koermer, a meteorology professor at Plymouth State University, would beg to differ. During a presentation at the university on Wednesday, Koermer explained why there are a growing number scientists, such as himself, who don't subscribe to the popular theory on global warming. Koermer said the Earth's climate has always changed and has experienced alternate warming and cooling trends long before the dawn of man. Koermer said most research suggests that at the beginning of the last millennium, there was a global warming period that ended around 1600, when a significant cooling trend — which he called a mini ice age — lasted for approximately 100 years. The most recent global warming trend picked up during the 1700s, which coincides with the start of the Industrial Age, Koermer said. Going back millions of years, some research suggests the Earth has had much more extreme climate changes than are occurring today. "Over millions of years there have been periods when we have been hotter than we are today," Koermer said. He added that while humans do have an impact on the climate, it is minimal compared to natural phenomena. He also said that humans are not the biggest producers of carbon dioxide and that the gas is not the most abundant green house gas in the atmosphere. That title goes to water vapor, which is produced by the world's oceans. Koermer said that water vapor is responsible for 95 percent of the green house gas effect in a given year while another 4.72 percent is caused by a mix of other greenhouse gases, including methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide, which are naturally produced. Humans are only responsible for .28 percent of all greenhouse gases produced during a year, he said. Koermer said just because he doesn't think man-made carbon dioxide is contributing significantly to climate change, it does not mean he is opposed to the increased use of renewable fuel sources. He said that fossil fuels are a limited resource, so finding alternatives is necessary. Koermer said scientists are not yet sure what has caused climate change in the past, but factors may include shifts in the Earth's axis as well as changes in the orbit of the Earth around the sun. Over time, Koermer said, the Earth's yearly path around the Sun changes from circular to more elliptical before changing back. Sunspots and solar flares may also effect the Earth's climate. Koermer said solar flares and spots seem to increase and decrease on an 11-year cycle. He noted that there was a marked decrease in solar flares during the mini ice age of the 1600s. Changes in the wind patterns or atmospheric oscillations can affect global climate. The El Niño and La Nina weather patterns are an example as well as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. "[The Earth's climate] has been swinging up and swinging down and we don't know why, we don't know what caused the last ice age," Koermer said after the presentation. Koermer said that the long-range climate models proponents of global warming often use are inaccurate. He said the most sophisticated weather prediction models are only accurate up to weeks and most meteorologists hesitate to forecast much beyond six days. He said just as climate prediction models aren't flawless, the methods used to estimate past temperatures, such as examining tree rings, sediment layers and ice cores, are not fool proof and are limited in what they prove. Kevin McGuire, a fellow professor at PSU, said Koermer's presentation was "very well done." "I agree that there are a lot of uncertainties," McGuire said about the causes and nature of global climate change. "I agreed with some aspects," Katie Laro, PSU freshman and meteorology major said. "Like, how can we can know for certain that the average temperature will increase or decrease 100 years from now?" [Read More] |
Books Energy Keepers Energy Killers by Roy InnisThis powerful book documents the destruction planned in every community in the United States by the assault of the Energy Killers invading the world. Al Gore Wants This Book Banned! Fox News' Sean Hannity says if you read it and act on its message, "You will change the world." Change the world - Buy this Book LatestAds combat Senate climate billA conservative, free-market advocacy group, The Club for Growth, is airing radio and television ads to counter a Senate bill on climate change. The purpose of the ads is to explain to the public the extent to which the legislation could damage the economy, should it pass. "The number of jobs that will be lost, the rise in price in gasoline and electricity, the loss in GDP -- it's all astronomical. And we think it's important for people to know what's going on ..." The legislation is a "massive redistribution of wealth," and the organization is asking concerned citizens to call their senators and urge them to oppose the measure. Press SMARTGREENUSA LAUNCHES GLOBAL WARMING ATTACKEXPOSING ECO-HYSTERIA AND STOPPING GREEN GENOCIDE WASHINGtTON, DC - SmartGreenUSA is exposing ‘Eco Hysteria;’ the Eco Hysteria ignited by climatologists, politicians and government commissions that ignore good science and create laws that kill people and the economy.   Al Gore Wants This Book Banned!Energy Keepers, Energy Killers By - Roy Innis This powerful book documents the destruction planned in every community in the United States by the assault of the Energy Killers invading the world. Fox News' Sean Hannity says if you read it and act on its message, "You will change the world." Change the world - Buy this Book
gas tax  SmartGreenUSA is committed to continuing environmental progress and Smart-Green initiatives. We are dedicated to pursuing the best science available, to evaluate the costs and economic impact associated with the ideas, products and policies proposed as “green” and to be your voice to remind the government that they are elected to serve the people, not to rule over us. We fought a battle to ensure the right to be governed over 200 year ago. With your help we will continue to fight for your rights. DONATE to SmartGreenUSA Thank you for your generous support to help SmartGreenUSA protect America. "A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins."
Benjamin Franklin "The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men." Samuel Adams Exposing the truth - Making a difference in this world while I am here. ~ Patrick Hughes ~ SmartGreenUSA |
