Yet another global warming question?

Question

Why does one warm winter prove that global warming is real and is a threat, but one cold winter not prove anything. If there is a warm winter month suddenly global warming is eveywhere. But if it is really unusually cold, such as snow in Alabama, nobody says anything. And dont bother telling me about "trends". Im pretty sure one warm January is not a trend.

Answer 1

Don't confuse local weather with global climate.

The trend is in average temperatures, not in local swings.

To help you put it into perspective, remember that it is ALWAYS hot in January - in Brisbane.  Using local data to project about global events is as illogical, regardless of the area of investigation.

Answer 2

a warm winter does not prove that global warming is real

Answer 3

You are right. When one is predicting future weather, one should look at long term changes. Back in the late 40's and early 50's, we went through a 'global cooling' and thought we were entering into an ice age. This proved to be wrong of course. But you have to keep in mind that when the temp. does rise, even the slightest bit, that a lot more evaporation from the ocean occurs and that mean some one will get a lot more snow and or ice somewhere. That makes a lot of people believe the global warming is bunk. And keep in mind that when the polar ice recedes to the point it already has, something is changing. And the less ice to reflect sun light, the more sun energy is absorbed in the ocean to warm it up. This may be the earth going through a normal cycle regardless of man's intrusion, but we can't help wondering how much we have contributed to it.

Answer 4

well, it really doesn't but,look at the over all picture ok,tempts r well above average .there r heatwaves ok but there lasting longer ,i supect in the next 10 years tempts will be higher less and lass snow in the winter probary more tornados cause of the heating..only my opion

Answer 5

Short term weather is never proof about global warming, one way or another.  The scientists here have consistently said that.

These are proof:

http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/2007/

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

http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/wg1-report....

summarized at:

http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report...

Good websites for more info:

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

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

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/sci...

http://www.realclimate.org

"climate science from climate scientists"

Answer 6

one cold or warm year means nothing, its the average over a few years that matters.

and no one warm summer is not proof of global warming. it just proves it is warm year nothing more. besides you are looking at it at a local level, global warming dose not mean that every place in the world will get warmer. it just means that the world as a whole is getting warmer.

Answer 7

Please remember that the 'Man-did-it' enthusiasts have done an excellent job of marketing their cause.  Part of a good marketing/media campaign involves portraying only a positive image of the 'product'.  Casting any doubt on the product will hurt sales.  That pretty much covers my answer.

Answer 8

It has taken several years - at least twenty - to establish beyond reasonable doubt that global warming is happening.

Look at the graphs.  If that doesn't concern you then listen to the anecdotal evidence. Does it concern you that people who used to be able to feed themselves off their land, can no longer do so?  Do retreating glaciers concern you?  Does melting ice sheets concern you?

Answer 9

The key to what is happening is to observe the poles.  Don't pay any attention to peoples opinions of a cold winter or hot summer.  Just watch the rising sea levels and the disappearance of ice at the poles.

Answer 10

The top 11 warmest years on record were in the last 13 years. So its a bit more than one warm winter as you put it.

Answer 11

"Does it concern you that people who used to be able to feed themselves off their land, can no longer do so?"

They paved Paradise and put up a parkin lot...

Everyone outta them there cars and get on a bicycle... light soy candles to read by and hand crank yer one laptop per child.

Answer 12

The Way I See It #289

So-called “global warming” is just

a secret ploy by wacko tree-

huggers to make America energy

independent, clean our air and

water, improve the fuel efficiency

of our vehicles, kick-start

21st-century industries, and make

our cities safer and more livable.

Don’t let them get away with it!

– Chip Giller

Founder of Grist.org, where

environmentally-minded people

gather online.  

Even if this is just a bunch of phony-baloney who's it going to hurt

Answer 13

If records were kept hundreds of years ago you would find that what we are experiencing is normal cycling , global warming is a farce......

Answer 14

No, you're right. One warm or cold winter doesn't prove anything. Just like one warm year (1998) doesn't prove warming stopped back then. Though you don't want to hear it I have to say it's the trend that matters - and all trends do show continued warming.