Man vs. nature? global warming? ice ages?

Question

i have a few questions on which i would like to know your opinions. but first off, quick question:

In the supposed age of the earth at 4.5 billions years, how many ice ages has the earth supplied?

Now, In a book I've been reading called Field Notes on a Catastrophe, by Elizabeth Kolbert, the author mentions the icebergs found along the west coast of Greenland are “a reminder of the immensity of nature and the smallness of man.” Today, however, the icebergs are getting smaller due to man’s influence on global warming and resulting climate change. Which is more powerful in the end, man or nature? Which do you think will ultimately master the other? What does the Bible—or other sacred text—say about this?

Personally, I think that nature is more powerful in the end. What do you think?

Answer 1

Wait until we're moving stars around and then see which is more powerful.

Answer 2

I think man will eventually win in the man vs nature scenario.

Answer 3

What one would call actual "Ice Ages" are a relatively new part of the climate puzzle.  Most of the early ages of Earth were quite warm, significantly warmer than it is today.  Ice ages didn't really enter the scene until just the last million years or so.

Answer 4

I think the earth has supplied one ice age so far.  In the end, nature is stronger.  

Answer 5

Good thing you posted this up because I read somethings and they're kind of helpful... THANKS!

Answer 6

This sounds like a trick question to me.  Yes, nature is very powerful, but that doesn't relieve us of all responsibility for our actions.  Yes, there have been naturally occurring climate changes and mass extinctions, but that doesn't make it acceptable for us to cause these things if we can avoid them.  The North American buffalo was hunted nearly to extinction in the 19th century using relatively crude guns.  With our modern technology we can do far more damage.  We have the means to destroy all life on Earth if we get careless enough.  That kind of power carries a responsibility to make smarter choices and to choose to avoid human-caused destruction of the environment.

Answer 7

Supplied? How about gone through? There have been ice ages and mini ice ages last I heard there has been at lest a dozen.

Nature, humans are stupid enough to extinct themselves so it should be real easy for nature to do it since we are helping.  

Answer 8

their have been many glaciation cycles in the earths past, but they weren't around the full 4.5 billion years.  don't quote me, but i think they started maybe 300mya, and they are on a cycle of every 11000 yrs, which by the way we are overdo.  mother nature will win everytime, but we certanly can help our situation, and not make it worse.  don't know though .  it would take a massive terraforming project to advert an ice age.

Answer 9

The icebergs are getting smaller and people are getting bigger. ;)

We master nature one step at a time.  This push to change global weather patterns by limiting release of carbon dioxide is our first concerted attempt to completely control the weather.  This may not amount to much, but we will one day completely control the weather.

We will eventually gain control of plate tectonics, too.

If you look back 100 years, we were completely at the mercy of nature in many ways we have overcome with advancements like irrigation, pesticides, freezer storage, reefer shipping, etc.  We build dams to tame any river we want to, we have paved freeways thousands of miles long, etc.

No, we cant do this now, but imagine what we will be able to do in 100 years.