Issue 8: Is Global Warming Skepticism Just Smoke and Mirrors?
Issue 8: Is Global Warming Skepticism Just Smoke and Mirrors?
Ginger Powers
SCI 207 Dependence of Man on the Environment
Norman Stradleigh
July 25, 2010
What exactly is global warming? Do you know the answer, maybe you do, however, taking a pretty good educated guess I would tend to think that most people think they have a pretty good idea when in actuality they have no clue what so ever about global warming. The current frenzy over global warming has galvanized the public and cost taxpayers billions of dollars in federal expenditures for climate research. It has spawned Hollywood blockbusters and inspired major political movements. It has given a higher calling to celebrities and built a lucrative industry for eager scientists. In short, ending climate change has become a national crusade. And yet, despite this dominant and sprawling campaign, the facts behind global warming remain as confounding as ever. Let’ s start by talking about the definition; according to Sir David King and Gabrielle Walker’ s, 2008, book titled “The Hot Topic “ global warming is defined as a gradual increase in the earth’s surface temperature. A more popular usage definition would be global warming is caused by human activity, or let’s look at a more technical term anthropogenic. The debate would be is global warming observed naturally or is it man made? Some might actually take on a debate about the natural causes, like is the sun getting hotter; or maybe the debate would lean more towards human causes, carbon dioxide , here is a good example: the exhaust from cars and power plants that pollute our air. Which side of the debate would you take? One in respect to thinking that global warming is a serious problem, then again maybe global warming has only clouded the issue or in simple terms; how the climate system really works and why man’s role in global warming is more myth than science, and how the global warming hype has corrupted Washington and the scientific community.
Ginger Powers
SCI 207 Dependence of Man on the Environment
Norman Stradleigh
July 25, 2010
What exactly is global warming? Do you know the answer, maybe you do, however, taking a pretty good educated guess I would tend to think that most people think they have a pretty good idea when in actuality they have no clue what so ever about global warming. The current frenzy over global warming has galvanized the public and cost taxpayers billions of dollars in federal expenditures for climate research. It has spawned Hollywood blockbusters and inspired major political movements. It has given a higher calling to celebrities and built a lucrative industry for eager scientists. In short, ending climate change has become a national crusade. And yet, despite this dominant and sprawling campaign, the facts behind global warming remain as confounding as ever. Let’ s start by talking about the definition; according to Sir David King and Gabrielle Walker’ s, 2008, book titled “The Hot Topic “ global warming is defined as a gradual increase in the earth’s surface temperature. A more popular usage definition would be global warming is caused by human activity, or let’s look at a more technical term anthropogenic. The debate would be is global warming observed naturally or is it man made? Some might actually take on a debate about the natural causes, like is the sun getting hotter; or maybe the debate would lean more towards human causes, carbon dioxide , here is a good example: the exhaust from cars and power plants that pollute our air. Which side of the debate would you take? One in respect to thinking that global warming is a serious problem, then again maybe global warming has only clouded the issue or in simple terms; how the climate system really works and why man’s role in global warming is more myth than science, and how the global warming hype has corrupted Washington and the scientific community.
References: Cunningham, M.A. & Cunningham, W.P., 2009, “Principles of Environmental Science Inquiry & Applications”, pp 43-370 Easton T.A., 2009, “Taking Sides Clashing Views on Environmental Issues”, pp 136-165 Horner, C.C., 2007, “The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism”, pp 114-256 Jones, D.K., 1993, “the Geographical Journal, Vol. 159, No. 2”, pp 124-130 King S.D. & Walker G, 2008, “The Hot Topic”, pp 66-132 Tennesen, M., 2004, “The complete Idiot’s Guide to Global Warming”, pp 3-208 Wood, B.D., 2007, “American Journal of Political Science, Vol. 51, No. 3”, pp 552-568 http://www.epa.gov/oust/fedlaws/publ_109-058.pdf