Is it us, or does it just happen?

[pigletwillie]

Please all, this threads about global warming, not ones ability, or not to have rug rats.
Keep on topic or I will set Seahore and Zazen999999 on you.

[Birdie Wife]

but does it\?

if you believe that the planet and all species on it regulate themselves to fit the enviroment?

I don't believe they do - evolution doesn't work quite like that. Things evolve by exploiting a niche, for their own good and not for the good of the other species around them or the planet. Gaia hypothesis I think is an influence, but even James Lovelock, the founder of the hypothesis, is saying that it might not be enough to counter-act the massive acceleration of greenhouse gases that we have created (see link and scroll down to "Revenge of Gaia").

[gemlady]

Who should we believe about the state of the earth and its future? About most things there is conflict of opinion by learned scientists and so-called experts, also self and political interest so it's really difficult to know how correct the information we are supplied with is. Also theories change or are disproved so I find myself in a state where I think I should do as little harm to the planet and it's wildlife as possible whilst still trying to have a reasonable standard of living.

My guess is at some point the world will be so overpopulated by us that we will either starve, or something nasty will come along to wipe out a large percentage of the populus. Until then I'll grow my veg, recycle as much as possible and hope for the best.

[BrideXIII]

I don't believe they do - evolution doesn't work quite like that. Things evolve by exploiting a niche, for their own good and not for the good of the other species around them or the planet. Gaia hypothesis I think is an influence, but even James Lovelock, the founder of the hypothesis, is saying that it might not be enough to counter-act the massive acceleration of greenhouse gases that we have created (see link and scroll down to "Revenge of Gaia").

I would agree with that, indeed that is the problem, the difference is another species doesn't know its doing it, nor does it have the thought process to balance it, it just 'does' it.

Humans know they are doing it, have the ability to control how they do it, and yet still choose to carry on regardless.

[kate&rob]

well, there is some serious reading on this isn't there.
my inexperienced view is that yes, global warming is cyclical, however we seem to be hell bent on speeding things up.
i find it disturbing seeing animals suffering due to this, but thinking about it, animals have become extinct since time began (well, almost) so it will continue to happen no doubt. we can all do our bit though, and if everyone did just a little bit then things may not happen so quickly.
a question for the intelligent though, we can manufacture all manner of gasses etc so why can we not mass manufacture CO and send it to the ozone layer??
as for the children debate, i've had 2 and love them to bits, but if i had my time again i don't think i would do it again, i'm just not maternal in nature. so i don't think people are selfish if they decide not to have children.

[Paul Wagland]

I'd agree that global warming (and cooling) can be a natural phenomenon. It's wrong to call it a cycle though. A cycle shows a pattern, such as the Northern hemisphere warming up in the summer (North Pole leaning towards the Sun) and cooling down in the winter (North Pole leaning away from the Sun). Global climate change is more random than that, and is caused by a given event - possibly a completely random one. For example a volcanic 'super eruption' releases a blanket of greenhouse gasses which warms the Earth for many decades. Not a cycle - simply variable.

The point which really needs to be understood is that the 'given event' that has caused the current rise in global average temperatures is man made. It's down to the Industrial Revolution. According to CNN, atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by 35% since the start of western industrialisation, methane levels by 151%.

There have been two huge computer-modelled studies recently - one American, one British. They have both shown (by scientific standards, conclusively) that of all the many theories behind current global warming, man-made greenhouse gas emissions are to blame. You might not have read about this in the newspapers - they were probably preoccupied with 'Maddy' or some footballer's indiscretions.

You can blame sun spots, boyfriend's flatulence, or even the Inland Revenue, but the evidence is no longer being argued over in sensible scientific circles. Whether we can do anything about it is really the current issue.

Here's a hacked version of Google Maps which lets you change the sea level and discover when your house gets flooded: Flood Maps What fun!

[Birdie Wife]

[QUOTE=kate&rob;340307]
a question for the intelligent though, we can manufacture all manner of gasses etc so why can we not mass manufacture CO and send it to the ozone layer??
QUOTE]

Don't know if 'they've' thought of that... though you probably mean manufacturing O3 (ozone) and sending it up but the energy it would take to create it would probably knock that option out. 'They' are thinking quite seriously of pumping excess CO2 down under the seas where the gas and oil have been taken out though.

Thoughts?

[BrideXIII]

Here's a hacked version of Google Maps which lets you change the sea level and discover when your house gets flooded: Flood Maps What fun!

it was too, and very interesting if it is right.

due to the protection afforded by the harbour we don't actually get hit until it reaches +10 meters and spreads across from the left of us

[MrsC]

CNN is owned by Time Warner, who is owned by General Electric (GE...Google it) who also own Viacom, Disney; who also own ABC news, NBC news plus many others. So newspaper or tv broadcasts alike, I also look/read elsewhere and don't take what is said at face value. My son likes Cartoon Network and Bugs Bunny also.

Research it further and you will find out.

[Jenegade]

A ink to visit if you're interested...

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/course/v...1526&topic=all