Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It's just hit 42C (107.6F)here and climbing.

I suppose global warming, sorry, climate change, depends on where you live.

The main reason the term changed from 'global warming' to 'climate change' is because the phenomenon covers so much more than simply raising the Earth's mean temperature. I guarantee non of the forumites making a joke of this have any kind of qualification (or even basic understaning of the concepts) in geography, geology, meteorology, environmental science or environmental engineering.*

There is not a single prominent member in these industries who have stuck their noses up at the idea of climate change, though there appears myriad armchair experts who are willing to do so. I get my advice from people who I know know. I know forum members here know about Ricks. I know my partner and her collegues know about climate change.

If I sound upset, it's because I too, have to put up with Melbourne's hottest week in 100 years, and a ten year old Australian drought that destroyed my father inlaw's home (used to be a lakeside hobby farm, no there's no lake, no farm - just a hobby desert).

*Note: I have no qualification in any environmental field, but my partner is an environmental engineer who recently presented a paper on changes to the engineering industry due to predicted climate change.

Here in Minnesota(Coldest State Of The Lower 48)2006 was the warmest year since they started keeping records in 1895 but 2008 was the coldest in 30 years. So far,2009 is even colder.

antipodean wrote:Hmmm..... if it's locked in, maybe I should dump my idea of the eco-car and get that twin-turbo six I've been dreamin of.... It'll come in handy if the world gets all Mad Maxesque....

Hahahahahhaa im with ya!

Crossbows and mohawks are coming into style again this year, folks ...

CO2 in the atmosphere and 'climate change' is but one of a number of problems we humans are causing for the biosphere (and therefore, ourselves). Ancient aquifers around the world are being depleted, burning fossil fuels puts a lot more than just CO2 into the atmosphere, and we're using the world's oceans as one big toxic toilet...and on and on. I fully suspect that there will be enough people who cling, Illinois Governor-style, to the idea that "there's been no wrongdoing", when in fact there's been plenty.

If humans can use the intelligence they've evolved to change the most egregious parts of their collective behavior, i.e.: rampant consumption, mindless pollution and out-of-control procreation, a lot of other things may fall into place and the race has a future. If not, well...even a dog, when attacked by enough fleas, will scratch.

(And, by the way, Nanuk is pretty well doomed, outside of zoos, regardless of what any crackpot news story may have to say to the contrary...and Simba's going down too. The lions of Africa, the last remnants of a species that once extended well into Southern Europe and Asia Minor, are dropping dead of canine distemper, passed on to them by the dogs kept by all the humans encroaching on their territory. If your idea of a rosy future contains none of these magnificent animals and another 6 billion of us, uh, I got nothin' more to say...where's that uncontrollably sobbing emoticon when you need it?)

longboard_ric wrote:It's just hit 42C (107.6F)here and climbing.

I suppose global warming, sorry, climate change, depends on where you live.

And i see it's going to get even hotter here in Melbourne over the next 3 days Shane! 43C tomorrow, 42C Friday and 40C Saturday
Remind you of anything, Dave Pascoe????

octagon wrote:Here in Minnesota(Coldest State Of The Lower 48)2006 was the warmest year since they started keeping records in 1895 but 2008 was the coldest in 30 years. So far,2009 is even colder.

That's exactly why currently identified climate change is no longer called "global warming".

Climate change is something that has in the past, and will in the future, occur naturally, with or without our help. What's next, blame continental shift on mankind?

Despite the severe winter storm warnings, these demonstrators are making ready for Al Gore's appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday morning to testify on the "urgent need" to combat global warming.

ken_j wrote:

global_warming.jpg

Despite the severe winter storm warnings, these demonstrators are making ready for Al Gore's appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday morning to testify on the "urgent need" to combat global warming.

Good one!

jps wrote:Climate change is something that has in the past, and will in the future, occur naturally, with or without our help. What's next, blame continental shift on mankind?

No, we are not responsible for 'continental shift', but since you bring it up...don't you find it a little cautionary that the Popes kept an otherwise pretty intelligent race from being able to realize there was such a thing as moving continents for centuries? Not to mention the Earth being round and not the center of the Universe. There will always be forces within society who, for whatever their vested interests, will rant against science and, well, truth (to use a somewhat charged term). I refer you to the present-day Kansas Board of Education as a fine example.

'Climate change' has indeed occurred throughout the history of the planet, and it has frequently been a tough place to live while that's happening. The most rapid and devastating of these periods were caused by supervolcano explosions and asteroid strikes. So just think of humanity as a slow-motion volcanic explosion...

The big difference, of course, is that a volcano can't change it's mind and stop exploding. The challenge for us now is: can we put the magma back in the crater? Kind of a 'toothpaste/tube' dilemma...

paologregorio wrote:

ken_j wrote:

global_warming.jpg

Despite the severe winter storm warnings, these demonstrators are making ready for Al Gore's appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday morning to testify on the "urgent need" to combat global warming.

Good one!

That was in an email I recieved today. Timing is everthing, I guess.

jps wrote:Climate change is something that has in the past, and will in the future, occur naturally, with or without our help.

It is not possible for anything to 'occur naturally with our help'.

The nature of natural occurrances is that, by definition, they occur naturally 'by nature; innately or inherently' [definition taken from dictionary.com]

If we're helping, it aint natural!

In keeping with our discussion of the earth's climate, this thread is on thin ice.

I believe it has merit and is of great interest to us all but the political overtones are such that is moving in a southerly direction.

Could I please remind posters about the "no politics" rule. There is no way to surgically edit such threads without some feeling that they did not have a voice. This inevitably leads to the removal of the thread which is unfortunate.