[pct-l] SFGate: Global warming stalks Yosemite..

[jeffmoorehead1 at cox.net (Jeff Moorehead)]

Lars,
 I must take major objection to your argument. My brother has given me the 
same for years and it certainly makes for very lively vacation conversation. 
But a response is required if in fact your point of view represents even a 
small percentage of the non-scientist's view on this matter.

How long are you going to insist that humans have not plagued this planet 
with the outlook for rapid climate change? The evidence is there and it is 
stark. We are placing tons of additional carbon into the atmosphere with the 
consequence for rapid climate change unlike any transitions seen in the 
past. Read the article again. There is no precedent for this rapid of 
warming in the earth's past. The glacial cycle periods are on the order of 
tens of thousands of years. In my mind, a comensurate comparison of 
anthropogenic change and natural climatic cycles is not possible here. This 
should cause you some alarm. Maybe we cannot adapt to a changing evironment 
no matter how much technology is thrown at the problem if the change is this 
precipitous.

I just take major objection to the argument that natural processes have 
resulted in similar consequences to the planet. Take the argument that 
volcanoes emit tons of sulfur dioxide, methane and CO2 (all greenhouse 
gases) so we are somehow justified in releasing our share of CO2. This 
mollifying argument is made for the purpose of duping people into believing 
that humans have not transcended the earth's 'natural boundaries'. This is 
one flawed argument! Wow-- they have a much more severe  greenhouse effect 
on Venus, so what's the problem?? Last time anyone with credentials 
discussed the matter, there is no life on Venus and currently no life on 
Mars.

with due respect,
 Jeff




> Granted, I am not a scientist, but I think the Earth's temp goes up and 
> down almost like breathing.  We have had ice ages and warmer ages 
> throughout the planet's history and now we may be finding that the same 
> goes on other planets as well.  The Martian polar icecap has shrunk by 
> about 4% over the past decade (I don't know if it was tracked prior to 
> this), and to the best of anyone's knowledge, there are no Martian SUVs 
> being blamed for this.  Rather, scientists at NASA or JPL are saying it is 
> solar radiation causing this phenomenon.  Is it possible that solar 
> radiation is a leading cause of our own global warming?  I am not saying 
> that we should be oblivious to our own behavior as individuals or as a 
> society, but if the leading cause is outside of our control, wouldn't it 
> be wiser to spend the resources in learning to adapt to a changing 
> environment?