Global warming

[Tony Williams]

Not strictly on-topic, but it might be of interest. I've put a summary of the current issues around global warming (especially for SF writers) on my website, here: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Global%20warming.htm

[Trinoc]

Please let us not have a climate change denial thread!

[Tomolac]

Tony is talking about man made global warming (all though titled as simply global warming, tit for tat to most I know), not climate change.

[Tony Williams]

Tony is talking about man made global warming (all though titled as simply global warming, tit for tat to most I know), not climate change.

Well, climate change is a consequence of global warming (which is simply concerned with the increase in the average surface temperature of the planet). This warming has the effect of disrupting existing climate patterns in ways which are difficult to predict precisely but will vary from region to region.

[Tomolac]

climate change is a consequence of global warming

isn't that kind of like saying wet is a consequence of water.

This warming has the effect of disrupting existing climate patterns in ways which are difficult to predict precisely but will vary from region to region.

unless the pattern was already warming, then that's like saying a planes wings disrupts the planes flying pattern.

[Tony Williams]

The distinction seems clear enough to me.

"Climate change" encompasses the fact that both temperature and rainfall patterns are expected to change (indeed, are already changing). So some areas will become much drier and others wetter. And within the overall average increase in temperature, some areas (e.g. the Arctic) are warming up much more quickly than others. In fact, if the concerns about the stopping of the North Atlantic Drift prove justified, NW Europe might actually become cooler for a while.

"Global warming" just provides the heat engine which is driving these climatic changes.

[Antipositor]

Please let us not have a climate change denial thread!

What's the difference between climate-change denial, and skepticism of conclusions about climate-change causes and climate-change predictions?

[Trinoc]

What's the difference between climate-change denial, and skepticism of conclusions about climate-change causes and climate-change predictions?

Skepticism is refusing to accept facts without evidence. Denial is refusal to accept facts despite evidence.

[Antipositor]

Skepticism is refusing to accept facts without evidence. Denial is refusal to accept facts despite evidence.

Then why are those who question the assertions of certain global climate catastrophe for lack of evidence, are often labeled as "climate deniers?"

[Trinoc]

Then why are those who question the assertions of certain global climate catastrophe for lack of evidence, are often labeled as "climate deniers?"

Those who question are not. Those who obfuscate and try to misrepresent the facts to support a contrary point of view are.