Posted on June 26, 2007 in Latest News
In spite of growing scientific evidence that points to anthropogenic sources of global warming, many dissenters staunchly believe that human activities do not contribute much to global warming. The debate is open on both sides with plenty of facts to support both points of view.
- A few scientists feel that there has been no rapid increase in global warming and attribute it to a natural phenomenon. They feel that in fact, this warming is conducive to human and wildlife and hence welcome.
- They point to the fact that global warming did not take place for thirty years in this century, the total warming was less than half of that predicted by computer models and the troposphere is not as warm as that forecast by the computer models.
- However there is a valid explanation for these phenomena. A large number of sulphates in the air during this period reflected sunlight, leading to cooling. Secondly, oceans have absorbed a large amount of the extra heat and are warmer by about 0.2 degrees over the average temperature of the past five decades. Only the last phenomena regarding the troposphere still puzzle scientists.
- The arguments against global warming caused by human activity find favor among politicians and businessmen simply because it suits their business interests. Changing methods of production and adopting cleaner technologies will badly affect their bottom line and hence they dispute scientific findings to the contrary. They have a shortsighted approach without considering the long-term consequences of the damage to the environment and their very existence.
- They dispute the fact that computer models do not make accurate forecasts since they cannot predict solar or volcanic activity accurately.
- Climate science needs to adopt more scientific methods, as it is prone to antiquated measurement methods and improper data interpretation.
- There need not be a positive co-relation between industrialization and global warming. On the contrary, this period has seen global economy boom with beneficial economic impact on several nations. Hence, reduction in emissions may adversely affect the GDP of several countries around the world.
- The view on global warming is alarmist and is similar to the response to global cooling in the mid 1970s.
- Carbon dioxide contributes less than one percent to the greenhouse effect as compared to water vapor and hence a curb on emissions will affect manufacturing industries across the world.
- Some defendants of this theory believe solar activity of sunspots to be responsible for global warming.
- Others feel that global warming is a result of a cloud cover over the earth.
The bottom line is that there will be as many views as the number of people for every argument. However, it is in the interest of mankind to accept global warming as abnormal and to take proper steps to prevent it. In nutshell, the short-term hardships will alone ensure our survival in to the future.
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