I want to learn about global warming. What books should I read?

Question

That repressent both sides of the argument please

Answer 1

A speech by Senator Inhofe gives some perspective on the issue, see:

http://inhofe.senate.gov/pressreleases/c...

If you google "global warming", both sides will come up in the hits.  It is pretty easy to see which side a web site supports.

The whole issue rests on interpretation of data that is very noisy (the variance is about the same magnitude as the effect), and extrapolating complex chaotic mathematical models into the future.

Because of some inherently random factors that have enormous effects on climate (volcanos, meteor strikes), there is no way even in theory to make definite predictions about future climate.

So at the scientific level, there is usually acknowledgement of the uncertainties so people can CYA (cover their a**) just in case, that never makes it into the media and the issue becomes black and white when it is mostly gray.

Any source you read will tend to be biased, probably strongly, one way or the other, and just trying to find data without it being surrounded by spin is hard to come by.  (Changing the scaling of the y-axis on graphs is a classic ruse used by both sides.)

Mankind can affect local climate (cities) without question, the data are unequivocal and show cities are warmer, and the air more polluted.  The ecological bootprint of a large city is enormous.

But the overall climate changes we see today are within the natural variance seen in previous times, so figuring out mankind's contribution to current climate change cannot be easily determined.

The politics of the issue are simple.  Telling people they have to give up their standard of living for colder winters, is an immediate non-starter.  That is why the US Senate decided  in  1997 (Byrd-Hagel Resolution (S. Res. 98) passed 95-0) they were not going to touch climate change with a ten meter cattle prod.

So regardless of all the lip service about climate change,

in practice it is business as usual.

Answer 2

It;s a bunck of crock...don't waste your time!

Answer 3

I believe in Climate change. Weather changes like last summer extremely hot weather, even winter are colder. There been increased in wildfires and drought, which been destroy the ecosystem, and cause more extinction of animal and plants. And probably heard about the glacier melting and sea level has been rising because the Carbon dioxide and other gases that have been trapping the sun heat in earth's atmosphere.  This problem was caused by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests from humans' and it our responsibility to do something about. It not hoax, for the bush admiration and Fossil Fuel Company have been both denial and toning down climate change (global warming) so won’t seem as bad and there doing for money over well be of people as well as planet. We all have to cooperate in this world effect. Human are consider a dominate race, create machine and change environments, to make house and city and were also have largest population and we power to destroy whatever is in our path. There time when were going to see what wrong we done to earth, and try fix this global problem, for better than doing nothing. I know humans are not perfect and it natural to think of yourself cause it real thing we understand but once and while we need to think what going on around us for world doesn’t center around you. Animal are valuable they keep the balance of life or circle of life, without them, the environment will be danger and which will endanger us.  This planet earth has given us so many things like tree that bring the oxygen, a habit for animal and reduce carbon emissions and this planet is alive and belongs to animals as well. Even though we make mistake that why we strive to do be better people. I not trying to converge and change you into something your not, I just like you understand what I and perhaps many other see. 4 stop global warming sites

http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/2006...

http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/default...

www.climatecrisis.net

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200704/...

2 cartoons making fun of global warming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIJZ4d892...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLW2T3QgJ...

sorry it long but i been want to post this answer to someone

Answer 4

Look it up on google or go to the Libarry.  Whatch algores new video the inconvent truth

Answer 5

take your pick many people are qouting all kinds of web sites ,read all of them

The Earth has many problems because of man

this is undeniable ,how much we are responsible for Global warming is debateble ,But there is a definate change in Global temperatures that is affecting nature in a bad way.

this text only covers some aspects of Climate change ,mainly agriculture i.e.effects of deforestation and subsequent man made desertification

water and air polution such as caused by

industrial contamination ,the contaminating effects of the cities(the internal combustion engine) ,are other stories,

and all of these are also man made ,such as the high industrial chimneys pumping contamination into the clouds and the burning of tires,some of this polution has been found in the ice in the polar regions

there are natural cycles in the planets life

but a lot is influenced by mans existance ,and this is increasing with overpopulation,putting strains on Natural resources and increasing contaminations as well as destructions of essential componants the ensure living conditions for all life forms

climate change is caused in great parts by desertification ,and most desertification is caused by man

the thinner ozone layer helps to speed this up.and this is caused mainly by air polution ,also as a result of mans actions

in North Africa,India,Mexico ,millions of people are effected by land loss and desertification and some have died as a result,

And now many animals are becoming sick because of changes in temperature ,

vital links in the food chains are disapearing affecting other species further along in the chain

90% of the feral (wild) bee population in the United States has died out.

In the Netherlands bee diversity is down 80 percent in the sites researched, and that "bee species are declining or have become extinct in Britain."

wildflowers that depend on pollination have dropped by 70 percent

we are witness to a mass exstinction ,for the first time since the dinosaurs, of the earth's estimated 10 million species, 300,000 have vanished in the past 50 years. each years, 3,000 to 30,000 species become extinct.

everything is happening so fast it is not possible to monitor things any more.

,the Sahara is growing by 7 kilometers a year

and most of the desserts we know are a results of mans actions ,and they are increasing ,not getting less ,in the dinosaurs days ,there were few desserts.

collectively this planet is drying up ,

each degree rise in temperature means 10%crop loss

and there is less and less water (because of deforestation),to irrigate this production ,

and there are less and less farmers to do it..

Arable lands and their farms are lost all over the globe. Many farmers sons abandon farming and head for the cities.

Northern China is drying up, what once were millions of food producing people, are now hungry refugees ,running for their lives from the all consuming dust storms.

This will have a great effect on world food prices when they start buying at what ever cost, to feed their people.

The farmers that are left have to feed some 70 million more people than the year before but with less topsoil.

Over the last half century,

Population growth & rising incomes have tripled world grain demand from 640 million tons to 1,855 million

In the near future the global farming community will not be able to feed every body ,food prices will continue to rise. .

RISING SEAS

The northpole is melting ,and we will know it without ice in our life times.

this does not affect the sea level because it is ice that is already in the water.but the melting ice from Green land and the south pole ,are another matter

Global warming could be slowed down to some extent,but it will mean global co operation between all countries ,and taking into account human nature and the world politics ,it is unlikely that this will happen,

At least not untill we are all in the middle of planetary disastres and it becomes a battle for the survival of humanity every where,instead of just some third world countries Source(s) here are a 100 ways to help

http://www.eco-gaia.net/forum-pt/index.p...

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/natur... Source(s) (s) Lester E Brown is the director and founder of the global institute of Environment in the United states .he has compiled a report based on all the satalite information available from NASA,and all the information that has

come from Universities and American embassies WORLD WIDE ,

his little book--a planet under stress , Plan B has been trans lated into many languages and won the best book award in 2003

Answer 6

Sorry this is one sided.  So is the data.  If you read only one book, make it the first.  

"The Weather Makers"

http://www.amazon.com/Weather-Makers-Cha...

"The Revenge of Gaia"

http://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Gaia-Earth...

"Field Notes From a Catastrophe"

http://www.amazon.com/Field-Notes-Catast...

"The Winds of Change"

http://www.amazon.com/Winds-Change-Clima...

"Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum"

http://www.amazon.com/Plows-Plagues-Petr...

"Thin Ice"

http://www.amazon.com/Thin-Ice-Unlocking...

All are 4-5 stars on Amazon.

"I wasn’t convinced by a person or any interest group—it was the data that got me. I was utterly convinced of this connection between the burning of fossil fuels and climate change. And I was convinced that if we didn’t do something about this, we would be in deep trouble.”

Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly, USN (Ret.)

Former NASA Administrator, Shuttle Astronaut and the first Commander of the Naval Space Command

Short and long summaries of the data:

http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Ima...

http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf

There's a lot less controversy about this is the real world than there is on Yahoo answers:

http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/a...

And vastly less controversy in the scientific community than you might guess from the few skeptics talked about here:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/fu...

Good websites for more info:

http://profend.com/global-warming/

http://www.realclimate.org

"climate science from climate scientists"

Answer 7

If your interested in a book I know that Al gore has a book called the "inconvenient truth" he also has a movie out. The book is a good read though.

Answer 8

Cut and paste these, and start studying the weather from 100 years ago on any given day.Your own findings may surprise you.E-mail me back, and let me know how you did.

The full Deniers series

Statistics needed -- The Deniers Part I

Warming is real -- and has benefits -- The Deniers Part II

The hurricane expert who stood up to UN junk science -- The Deniers Part III

Polar scientists on thin ice -- The Deniers Part IV

The original denier: into the cold -- The Deniers Part V

The sun moves climate change -- The Deniers Part VI

Will the sun cool us? -- The Deniers Part VII

The limits of predictability -- The Deniers Part VIII

Look to Mars for the truth on global warming -- The Deniers Part IX

Limited role for C02 -- the Deniers Part X

End the chill -- The Deniers Part XI

Clouded research -- The Deniers Part XII

Allegre's second thoughts -- The Deniers XIII

Answer 9

Read Time Magazine and Newsweek.. Also watch "An Inconvienent Truth"... just google global warming and read away..