From 60 minutes http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/18/60minutes/main3380176.shtml Per the 60 minutes story From this report it appears that the people on the front line who have been fighting fires in the West, (some of whom have been doing it for years) firmly have seen the results and believe in the impact of global warming. The report is startling. 20 years ago a fire of 100,000 acres would have been huge. Now that is common place with common fires being 200,000 acres and big ones taking 600,000 acres. The US is spending 7 times what it did only 10 years ago to fight fires. The forest fire fighters are in agreement with scientists who have measured 1,000 years of temperature and see an increase in temperature over the last few decades. A major report on global warming came out around the time of the huge fires in San Diego and LA. A portion of it warned of the impact of increased fires due to global warming. The report was minimized in light of the emergency at the time. Of course the Bush administration did nothing about it. Maybe that is why they staged their fake press conference at FEMA--if only to take attention away from the startling overlap of horrible fires and the prediction that fires in the West will only continue due to global warming. Its a scary picture.
because those fighting fires are really scientists who have data that goes back millions of years, and not just data that goes back about 200 years...
Let's be clear. Who believes the world is getting hotter? Who believes, if that is so, that it is due largely to man? These are two different questions. I happen to answer "yes" to both, but we should start, I would think, by answering the first question before moving onto the second.
The factors that are increasing global warming 1) Cattle - methane gas 2) Deforestation 3) Burning Fossil fuels It was pretty warm in the days of the Vikings and they were growing grapes in Southern England at the time. It wasn't until the last few years that grape growing again became possible in Southern England. Around 1306 we went into the little ice age and around 1950 we started coming out of it. So that and man is are the causes - part natural and part man-made. If we had another little ice-age we may not be able to produce enough food. Time were pretty tough in Europe at the time.
Interesting, Bogart, that you mention grapes. Chef/Wine guy, and the drag for me is that grape varieties are creeping further and further north in Europe, with southern fields facing severe problems due to warming. It's too damn hot. My favorite grape - the finicky pinot noir - is being hit hard. I get testy when my wine is messed with.
I believe yes to both questions, NorthP. A fairly recent op ed by Friedman reported on a scientific presentation from reps of the American govt at an intl conference in SE Asia. He described how intnl delegates were prepared for a bunch of hoohaw representing the govt perspective. Instead they were blown away by the intricate science and perspectives that were in line with most of the world. The US govt's official response has been couched in politics to delay action on the issues in front of us. Its a shame.