The 20 September 2007 issue of the Christian Science Monitor had a thoughtful piece by Brad Knickerbocker, "Global-Warming Skeptics: Might Warming Be 'Normal'?", about those who are skeptical of the degree of human influence on global warming (click here to read it).
(AP photo by John McDonnico)
The skeptics cited in the story are not wackos who are the bottom-feeders of science. In fact, the ones interviewed believe that global temperatures are increasing, but are not convinced that humans are causing most of the increase. So the article's title is somewhat of a misnomer; they are skeptics when it comes to the role of humans, and the feedback effects.
I work with one of these skeptics, George Taylor at Oregon State University, who directs the Oregon Climate Service (OCS). George has taken a lot of criticism, much of it unfair, for his beliefs. It's not that he does not believe in global warming, but that he is uncertain of the magnitude of the anthropogenic portion. He feels that the current increase in global temperatures is part of a natural cycle. He's taken a lot of flak.
This is nothing new; we know that at times in the past, long before any human influences, global temperatures have been warmer and colder. Natural cycles are obviously at work. I am old enough to remember the 1960s and early 1970s when we were concerned about the onset of another Ice Age!
"With all of the hysteria, all of the fear, all of the phony science, could it be that man-made global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people? It sure sounds like it." -- Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-OK), 28 July 2003
Comments