Why do people keep confusing long term cycles with short term?

Question

Every other response here is someone saying that the earth has natural climate cycles implying that somehow this disproves increased greenhouse gases leading to abruptly rising temperatures. These natural cycles happen over long periods of time (barring a couple of incidences) and are not related to the sudden divergence seen in recent years. I am curious why pseudoskeptics keep using this as an argument and why they think it is compelling?

Answer 1

The short answer would be "ignorance".

The whole natural climate cycle argument is ludicrous. The people saying that seem to think that climate scientists aren't aware of past changes or natural causes.  It's thoroughly debunked here:

http://www.skepticalscience.com/climate-...

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12...

http://environment.newscientist.com/chan...

Answer 2

The same people like to talk about computer modeled polar bears and other equally real stuff.  Go figure.

Answer 3

It's generally global warming novices who make the 'natural cycles' argument - people who have done virtually no research on the subject, and are using their "common sense".  They think because it's happened naturally before, the current climate change must also be natural.

That they think climate scientists haven't considered previous natural cycles always boggles my mind.  As I discuss in the link below, "common sense" is only a valid tool when based on sufficient correct information.  When based on misinformation or ignorance, "common sense" will lead you to the wrong conclusion every time.

Answer 4

scary isnt it? they are grasping at straws.

unfortunately, the many 'natural' feedbacks are still working too, and  that will add to the anthropogenic climate change.

e.g.;

rising temperatures will  lead to an increase in atmospheric CO2 by increasing emission from soils (1)

Rain Forests Release Carbon Dioxide in Response to Warmer Temperatures (2)

Answer 5

It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever when both change constantly.

Did it get cold last night?

Abruptly rising temperatures????

Not even a degree in 100 years.  Are you serious?  Abruptly?  

I think the proper word would be GRADUAL at best.

Answer 6

Two major reasons.

Anyone can relate to the weather they experience.  Understanding climate means looking at a bunch of scientific data, and actually understanding it, which is harder.

They're desperate to clutch any straw which will allow them to continue to deny global warming, in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence.

Answer 7

People who keep confusing long term cycles with short term again and again and again are not interested in knowing the difference.

Note to Cindy W: It “got cold last night” because the rotation of Earth turned so that you were in a shadow for hours, not because anthropogenic global warming is a hoax.

Answer 8

You are correct in that the fact that the earth has apparently been hotter, colder and changed climate at a faster rate in human history does not in itself prove that the recent warming is predominately natural.  I don't think anyone is claiming that it does.  

The optical properties of CO2 are really not sufficient to cause measurable warming.  The idea of attributing recent warming to CO2 is a unscientific.  

Scepticism is a quite rational response.  Why should intelligent people share your faith?