Entire Antarctic Shelf splitting away from Continent.

[Charleston native]

...A single weather event is not a guage to either support or debunk global warming.

However, the cooling that we are experiencing throughout this entire season in conjunction with the lack of solar activity gives credence to the fact that global weather/climate is not controlled or effected by man's CO2 emissions. Therefore, the theory of man-made climate change is continuing to be debunked.

[Lunican]

Is that your political view or your religious view?

[Jason]

Not even one season or one year is enough time to gauge wether or not the planet as a whole is either cooling or warming.  It takes decades of data and analysis to determine exactly what is happening on a global scale.  Remember, weather patters (from what we know) are still cyclical, no matter what the overall average world temperature is.  There will still be extremely hot days mixed with extremely cold days.  Frankly, we've only had the technology to measure and analyze the Earth's weather patterns in place for the last 30-40 years and geological records only give us an approximation or hypothesis of what has happened in the past.  The point is, how can anyone make a truely educated guess on what is happening or how, without having done the necessary research?  I'm pretty secure with the idea that there is not one single member of this site that is qualified enough to factually state that global warming either is or is not real, much less exactly what is causing it.

[Charleston native]

This is a legitimate scientific view...regardless of politics or religion. However, since you and others have literally become part of the climate changer cult, we could discuss how ludicrous the concept of this new religion is, especially if you believe in God who ultimately is in control of His planet. If you don't believe that God is in control, as a Climate Changer, your fearless leaders are the Goracle and the Obamessiah. Oh yeah, and Hansen is their prophet.

Politically, we all know why climate change is such an essential tenet in liberalism and the Democrat party: more control over people.

So Jason, how are we supposed to live our lives then? If you are a believer, then you make constant efforts to...be green. If you are not a believer, you live your life as you always have. If you are in the middle, what exactly do you do? Bottomline, if you are making efforts to be green, you are subconsciously already conceding that man-made climate change is real. In some instances, you may want to save a few bucks, but by making those green efforts, you still provide credence to this insane religion.

This cooling pattern started 1-2 years ago, so it's not just one season. There is a trend. And astronomers back it up with their findings on other planets and observations of the sun.

[Jason]

My being "green" has nothing to do with saving the planet, but to save money on my electric bill.  I have no advice for what anyone should do with their response to the idea of global warming, I'm not sure myself.

Still, a cooling pattern of a couple years could merely be a "valley" in the overall scheme of long term climate change.  See the graphs on the previous pages.  Almost all parts of the world expereince the "50 or 100 year ____".  Also, which part of the world was this cooling pattern measured?

[Lunican]

This is a legitimate scientific view...regardless of politics or religion. However, since you and others have literally become part of the climate changer cult, we could discuss how ludicrous the concept of this new religion is, especially if you believe in God who ultimately is in control of His planet. If you don't believe that God is in control, as a Climate Changer, your fearless leaders are the Goracle and the Obamessiah. Oh yeah, and Hansen is their prophet.

Politically, we all know why climate change is such an essential tenet in liberalism and the Democrat party: more control over people.

So Jason, how are we supposed to live our lives then? If you are a believer, then you make constant efforts to...be green. If you are not a believer, you live your life as you always have. If you are in the middle, what exactly do you do? Bottomline, if you are making efforts to be green, you are subconsciously already conceding that man-made climate change is real. In some instances, you may want to save a few bucks, but by making those green efforts, you still provide credence to this insane religion.

This cooling pattern started 1-2 years ago, so it's not just one season. There is a trend. And astronomers back it up with their findings on other planets and observations of the sun.

Thanks for clarifying your stance. It doesn't appear to have anything to do with science though.

Your children potentially stand to gain from you being "green" now, but whatever.

P.S. Polluting is now a sin says the Pope.

[Charleston native]

My first half of my post was directed at Lunican, Stephen. My post was directed at Jason when I said the name, Jason. Sorry, I thought that would be easy to understand. Incidentally, I was including Lunican and others such as yourself. In actuality, while there may not be an official church membership or worship center, the concept of climate change has all the consistencies of a cult or religion. I guess you can say I meant it metaphorically. I'd love to go into detail about it, but I need to get back to work.

Jason, your statement proves my point. You say that you're going green to save money, when that in itself is debatable, but at the same time, you give further credence and legitimacy to the climate change believers. And by labeling the cooling period as a "valley" within the climate change theory, you are basically ignoring the scientific fact that the sun's activity plays the largest part in affecting the earth's climate and weather.

Lunican, astronomers' observations don't appear to have anything to do with science? OK, thanks for your input.  Also, the Pope is not the Bible, and I've never said pollution is a delight in the eyes of God.

[Jason]

CN, I am in the construction/electrical engineering industry and therefore see energy as a finite resource that is becoming more and more scarce as unhindered development continues to consume every corner of this planet.  My concerns about energy conservation have no link to global warming.

Also, not to redirect this thread, I have posted numbers and information in other threads on my own personal energy savings due to my energy conscious practices that include (among other things) the replacement of incandescent light sources with fluorescent ones.  Again, that is for another thread.

Furthermore, I have stated no stance, belief, or opinion on the sun's interaction with the Earth's climate and weather patterns.  That said, I DO believe that the sun plays a significant role, however, do not believe that it is the only factor to consider.  The "valley" I spoke of, in regards to your stated cooling trend, may very well be a legitimate argument that global warming is false. 

My point, as stated before, is that I don't believe the data is conclusive enough for anyone to make a solid statement that global warming either is or is not real, much less exactly what is causing it.  Until I see hard evidence that is supported by the majority of a multitude of scientific disciplins, I will maintain my stance.

[Lunican]

I think Charleston Native and RiversideGator are the only two that have come to a conclusion on this issue.

[RiversideGator]

River, I see after all these years you still don't even know what global warming is. Do you have any idea by how many degrees global warming is expected to raise the earths temperature by?

Do you? 

And, tell us what will the temperature be in Toronto on May 4th?

[RiversideGator]

But see... here is the problem.  In this thread some are arguing how dire the future is and how we should drastically cut carbon emissions... while in another thread some are tearing down any thought of nuclear reactors to provide clean, reliable, electricity at a reasonable cost.

The fact that the same GW crowd who screeches about CO2 refuses to accept the obvious CO2 free solution of nuclear power strongly indicates that the entire thing is nothing more than a political football designed to achieve their other ulterior goals.

[Charleston native]

Furthermore, I have stated no stance, belief, or opinion on the sun's interaction with the Earth's climate and weather patterns.  That said, I DO believe that the sun plays a significant role, however, do not believe that it is the only factor to consider.  The "valley" I spoke of, in regards to your stated cooling trend, may very well be a legitimate argument that global warming is false. 

My point, as stated before, is that I don't believe the data is conclusive enough for anyone to make a solid statement that global warming either is or is not real, much less exactly what is causing it.  Until I see hard evidence that is supported by the majority of a multitude of scientific disciplins, I will maintain my stance.

We will continue to disagree here, then. The sun indeed is not the only factor, but I think that the other factors are natural such as wind currents, ocean currents, and geothermal movements. Man is insignificant in this respect, IMO.

I understand your stance on conservation on energy, even though I do not agree with the premise behind it. My whole point is that the methods you use for conservation are the exact same methods that the climate change believers want you to use as well as everybody else on the planet; while your premises are different from each other, your methodology is the same. While you think you may have not taken the same stance as climate changers, you already have by your actions.

[Lunican]

CN: Your views are extremist. Not even RiversideGator can agree with you on this.

[RiversideGator]

I think Charleston Native and RiversideGator are the only two that have come to a conclusion on this issue.

So are you a doubter or even - gasp - a Denier that the GW theory is true?   

[jaxnative]

I believe in climate change.  I believe today was slightly different from yesterday in some areas and quite different in other locations.  I believe this has been going on for more time than humans can even relate to and would be no different if there were no humans.  Most are skeptics, following their common sense while digesting the available information while some have fully accepted the theory as fact and any information to the contrary is rhetorically bastardized.

I don't really care how one feels about the issue but I am bothered by two issues.  First, I am bothered when politicians base policy decisions on an unproven theory which may lead to detrimental consequences for our economy and standard of living.  Second, I beliveve children are being indoctrinated to the man-made climate change agenda through our educational system.

Climate change theory has now become so politicized by ego's and monetary interests that a productive discussion of the issue is almost beyond hope.