Global Warming Is Nothing New

[naomi24]

I watched one of Michael Portillo’s ‘Great Railway Journeys’ tonight. This time Alaska. Interestingly his Appleton’s Guide, published in the 1890s, noted that summers in Alaska were getting warmer and glaciers and icebergs were melting. Alaska affected by global warming in the 1890s - and industry in its infancy? Man - or nature?

[Zacs-Master]

All a bit vague. Warmer compared to what? Melting by how much?

[naomi24]

Warmer than it had been - and melting more than it had been - according to those who were there.

[Zacs-Master]

Whoa, don’t try to baffle me with no science, woman.

[jim360]

This appears to be true, and is probably associated with the ending of the "Little Ice Age" period of about 1500-1850 (or so). On the other hand, the rate of glacier retreat recently is greater than that of the late 19th Century.

[EDDIE51]

As Jim says there have been 2 ice ages. There have also been times when the Earth was a lot warmer than it is now. Fossil records prove that the UK at one time had a climate that was 'subtropical' . All part of Nature.

[jim360]

There have been a few more than just two Ice Ages.

[Canary42]

Dismissing the current trend as "just part of Nature" is a dangerous simplification. The rate of warming is greater than it has ever been, which is highy likely to have been enhanced by human activity, and that's why we need to address it.

But as always, the Deniers fight it every inch of the way, just like with Smoking/health, CFC/ozone layer, Petrol/lead etc etc. Nero would have been proud of them.

P.S. Portillo's rail programmes are very entertaining and interesting IMO. I've got several of the DVDs, and one of the books.

[nicebloke1]

Plastic pollution is not part of nature I'm afraid, along with it's production problems.

[douglas9401]

Man - or nature?

Nature, every time. Sadly though, it's the wrong kind of science, suppressed and late to the party.

Smiley face.

[bhg481]

How old is the earth? How long have we been keeping records? It makes me think that the scientists are doing the equivalent of photographing a car passing my house, using a shutter sped of 1/1000 sec, and predicting where it will be in an hour's time.