October 14, 2009
'What Happened to Global Warming?,' The BBC
Asks
Scientists disagree over whether the recent cooling is just a
temporary dip or whether it is a long-term trend.
'What Happened to Global Warming?,' The BBC
Asks
Scientists disagree over whether the recent cooling is just a
temporary dip or whether it is a long-term trend.
SUMMARY: The year 1998 was the warmest year recorded globally, but in the
last 11 years no increase in global temperatures has taken place. Climate
models did not forecast this, even though man-made carbon dioxide, the gas
thought to be responsible for warming our planet, has continued to rise.
Climate change skeptics say they saw this trend coming. They argue that
natural cycles over which we have no control determine how warm the planet
is. They say the warming over the last few decades of the 20th century was
due to the sun's energy increasing. Some 98% of the earth's warmth comes
from the sun.
Some research two years ago seemed to rule out solar influences, because
scientists could not connect solar output and cosmic ray intensity with global
average surface temperatures. However, solar scientist Piers Corbyn claims
solar charged particles are almost entirely responsible for global temperatures.
He plans to present his findings at a scientific conference in London at the
end of the month.
What's happening to our oceans is really interesting. Research by Professor
Don Easterbrook from Western Washington U. shows that ocean temperatures
and global temperatures are correlated. The oceans have a cycle of warming
and then cooling. For much of the 1980s and 1990s they were in a warmer
cycle along with global temperatures. Now they are cooling. These cycles in
the past have lasted nearly 30 years which leads Prof. Easterbrook to predict
about 30 years of global cooling.
But those supporting the idea of global warming and man's influence on it say
their climate models have incorporated solar variation and ocean cycles and
that there are a whole host of known factors that influence global temperatures.
Even though there may be periods of cooling, the long-term trend is clearly up,
they claim. So predictions of future climate vary. Skeptics think global
temperatures will not likely get back to the 1998 highs until 2030 at the earliest.
The other side thinks at least half the years from 2010 to 2015 will be even
hotter than 1998.
To read the entire article click on this link to the BBC.
COMMENT: Unlike in the debates over evolution and abortion, for instance,
there may be room for Bible-based Christians on either side of the
climate-change arguments. The Bible is silent on this issue, if I am not
mistaken.
Nevertheless we can learn some lessons from these clashes among scientists
over global warming. First, science is not the unimpeachable behemoth it is
sometimes made out to be. This lesson especially applies to the
evolution/creation debate. If scientists with all their tools can't agree on what is
happening to our present weather or what will happen in the near future, can
we trust their opinions on what supposedly happened millions and billions of
years ago when nobody was around?
Secondly, whether the climate warms up or cools down, we know the One who
created this earth, the sun, and the oceans is still very involved in what is
going on. God sometimes may let people suffer from their mistakes, but, for the
Christian believer, nothing evil will happen to him unless God has a very good
reason.
Thirdly, even if we may be a climate change skeptic, we should still study the
suggestions of those who believe in global warming. Some of their ideas, such
as using renewable energy and driving more fuel-efficient cars, may make
sense whether there is global warming or not. God wants us to be good
stewards of his planet until the time comes when the present earth will pass
away. Then believers in Jesus Christ as Savior will not need to have the
slightest concern about the climate because they will be in heaven where there
will be an eternally perfect environment.
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your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What service is a new company called Better Place about to offer?
**************************************************************************************
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including those
containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity or
advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please allow
several hours for it to appear on the blog.
**************************************************************************************
last 11 years no increase in global temperatures has taken place. Climate
models did not forecast this, even though man-made carbon dioxide, the gas
thought to be responsible for warming our planet, has continued to rise.
Climate change skeptics say they saw this trend coming. They argue that
natural cycles over which we have no control determine how warm the planet
is. They say the warming over the last few decades of the 20th century was
due to the sun's energy increasing. Some 98% of the earth's warmth comes
from the sun.
Some research two years ago seemed to rule out solar influences, because
scientists could not connect solar output and cosmic ray intensity with global
average surface temperatures. However, solar scientist Piers Corbyn claims
solar charged particles are almost entirely responsible for global temperatures.
He plans to present his findings at a scientific conference in London at the
end of the month.
What's happening to our oceans is really interesting. Research by Professor
Don Easterbrook from Western Washington U. shows that ocean temperatures
and global temperatures are correlated. The oceans have a cycle of warming
and then cooling. For much of the 1980s and 1990s they were in a warmer
cycle along with global temperatures. Now they are cooling. These cycles in
the past have lasted nearly 30 years which leads Prof. Easterbrook to predict
about 30 years of global cooling.
But those supporting the idea of global warming and man's influence on it say
their climate models have incorporated solar variation and ocean cycles and
that there are a whole host of known factors that influence global temperatures.
Even though there may be periods of cooling, the long-term trend is clearly up,
they claim. So predictions of future climate vary. Skeptics think global
temperatures will not likely get back to the 1998 highs until 2030 at the earliest.
The other side thinks at least half the years from 2010 to 2015 will be even
hotter than 1998.
To read the entire article click on this link to the BBC.
COMMENT: Unlike in the debates over evolution and abortion, for instance,
there may be room for Bible-based Christians on either side of the
climate-change arguments. The Bible is silent on this issue, if I am not
mistaken.
Nevertheless we can learn some lessons from these clashes among scientists
over global warming. First, science is not the unimpeachable behemoth it is
sometimes made out to be. This lesson especially applies to the
evolution/creation debate. If scientists with all their tools can't agree on what is
happening to our present weather or what will happen in the near future, can
we trust their opinions on what supposedly happened millions and billions of
years ago when nobody was around?
Secondly, whether the climate warms up or cools down, we know the One who
created this earth, the sun, and the oceans is still very involved in what is
going on. God sometimes may let people suffer from their mistakes, but, for the
Christian believer, nothing evil will happen to him unless God has a very good
reason.
Thirdly, even if we may be a climate change skeptic, we should still study the
suggestions of those who believe in global warming. Some of their ideas, such
as using renewable energy and driving more fuel-efficient cars, may make
sense whether there is global warming or not. God wants us to be good
stewards of his planet until the time comes when the present earth will pass
away. Then believers in Jesus Christ as Savior will not need to have the
slightest concern about the climate because they will be in heaven where there
will be an eternally perfect environment.
**************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What service is a new company called Better Place about to offer?
**************************************************************************************
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including those
containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity or
advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please allow
several hours for it to appear on the blog.
**************************************************************************************
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| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
Networks of service stations and
charging spots for electric cars. The
company has plans to build more than
20,000 charging spots in California and
have them running by 2012. More
charging spots means it is more practical
to invest in electric cars. (Picture: Reva
electric car, 2008, from Wikimedia
Commons)
Source: Parade (October 11, 2009)
charging spots for electric cars. The
company has plans to build more than
20,000 charging spots in California and
have them running by 2012. More
charging spots means it is more practical
to invest in electric cars. (Picture: Reva
electric car, 2008, from Wikimedia
Commons)
Source: Parade (October 11, 2009)