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Global Warming.

135

Comments

  • #62
    beans
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭beans


    I see what you mean, but getting the runoff from the ice caps anywhere useful is the challenge there.

    The amount of water available at any one time may be fine and dandy, but if there's not enough in the places it matters (parched fields and our reservoirs) then it doesnt matter how much is seeping into the Greenland brine.


  • #63
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16,339 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    The writer of this letter has correctly identified the real cause of global warming:
    Letter to Arkansas Democrat Gazette wrote:

    You may have noticed that March of this year was particularly hot. As a matter of fact, I understand that it was the hottest March since the beginning of the last century. All of the trees were fully leafed out and legions of bugs and snakes were crawling around during a time in Arkansas when, on a normal year, we might see a snowflake or two.

    This should come as no surprise to any reasonable person. As you know Daylight Savings time started almost a month early this year. You would think that members of Congress would have considered the warming effect that an extra hour of daylight would have on our climate. Or did they?

    Perhaps this is another plot by a liberal Congress to make us believe that global warming is a real threat. Perhaps next time there should be serious studies performed before Congress passes laws with such far-reaching effects.

    CONNIE M. MESKIMEN
    Hot Springs


  • #64
    cooperguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,651 ✭✭✭cooperguy


    Oh dear god for the sake of humanity please somebody tell me that was a joke letter. My faith in the human race has taken yet another blow!!!


  • #65
    thelordofcheese
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,368 ✭✭✭thelordofcheese


    i can only assume it's tounge in cheek.


  • #66
    seand333
    Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭seand333


    cooperguy wrote:
    Ya no matter how bad droughts get surely we'll still be able to use de-salination on the oceans to produce our water. It might be expensive etc. but it is possible

    De-salination is used in many world regions at the moment, especially the Middle East, but it appears to be very expensive and consumes high amounts of energy. The real problem could be decades down the line if global warming proves to be a huge problem and an energy crisis kicks in at the same time, with fossil fuel stocks running out. the world mightn't have the means to produce energy to desalinate. Problems with putting the waste saline content and other chemicals back into the sea after the fresh water is taken out will also affect the marine ecosystems, with over-salination becoming a problem. So while our generation might be ok, the **** could hit the fan for generations down the line. Don't want to sound doomsday-like, but if there's one problem that could bring chaos to civilisation it'll be water shortages.


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  • #67
    beans
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭beans


    Oh, and while it may be true that the warming is part of a natural cycle, never in the planets history has so much water been tied up in all these manufacturing processes. This heavy use of water, combined with natural dry spells and heat, is the big picture if you ask me.

    May not be the direct cause of what petrol you have in your car, but the net result could be the same when there's nothing to drink.


  • #68
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    Oh look! Another baking hot day in Ireland.. LOL @ the debunkers who think this is normal. Ireland is cold, wet and miserable. Right now it's not fitting the stereotype - Cause? Global warming. Deny it if you wish.


  • #69
    brianthebard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,165 ✭✭✭✭brianthebard


    Lolz at the fool who thinks one swallow makes a summer. Like I said come back to me when its been like this for ten years straight. It could rain for the rest of the summer for all you know. And as for Met eireann's predictions, anything after three days is guess work.


  • #70
    Glowing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,851 ✭✭✭Glowing


    Do you ever wonder what the point is in us making small changes in our lifestyle like changing to powersaver lightbulbs and recycling, when countries like China are pumping out billions of cubic meters of C02 every year, and its growing!
    I don't think anything we do is going to make a difference while this sort of stuff is going on (although it doesn't stop me trying!)


  • #71
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    I keep seeing China mentioned, the US pumps out nearly twice the amount of emissions of China. (http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science/each-countrys-share-of-co2-emissions.html)


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  • #72
    beans
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭beans


    Warm globe = global warming. Sure no-one's denying globabl warming, just it's causes and significance.

    In ten years we _could_ see a period of global cooling!


    As for small changes not making a difference, that's like saying 'what's the point of voting'. Tesco's Law, dude.


  • #73
    Glowing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,851 ✭✭✭Glowing


    dlofnep wrote:
    I keep seeing China mentioned, the US pumps out nearly twice the amount of emissions of China.

    True. I'll never understand their need to drive those massive pick-ups, I mean EVERYONE has them! Fair enough if you live or work on a farm, but as your main mode of transport to pick the kids up from school? Crazy :rolleyes:


  • #74
    solas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,999 ✭✭✭solas


    and if it snows in may?


  • #75
    Big Knox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,315 ✭✭✭Big Knox


    Alessandra wrote:
    Did these Hurricanes and famines and extremes of weather only start happening recently? I think not. Weather is by its' very nature extreme. Its like people saying society is gone to hell these days, when in fact people have always been bad/good. Weather is either bad/good. Natural disasters relaing to weather have always ocurred and will continue to occur, it's not a new phenomena. I refuse to believe this hype!

    I'm really really sorry to have to say this but... you are an idiot. Do some research before you post on something you have absolutely no clue about.

    Heres a hint watch "An inconvenient Truth" and see if it changes your view point. I know i'm being harsh here but this kind of ignorance annoys me. :mad:


  • #76
    brianthebard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,165 ✭✭✭✭brianthebard


    Omg, a movie! that's a great way of educating a person. Why I bet they'll replace teachers with movies soon, they're just that good!


  • #77
    zuutroy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,854 ✭✭✭zuutroy


    brianthebard wrote:
    Omg, a movie! that's a great way of educating a person. Why I bet they'll replace teachers with movies soon, they're just that good!

    My thoughts exactly....This thread is pretty much An Inconvenient Truth -vs- The Great Global Warming Swindle.


  • #78
    Big Knox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,315 ✭✭✭Big Knox


    brianthebard wrote:
    Omg, a movie! that's a great way of educating a person. Why I bet they'll replace teachers with movies soon, they're just that good!

    Have you ****ing seen it??


  • #79
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    brianthebard wrote:
    Omg, a movie! that's a great way of educating a person. Why I bet they'll replace teachers with movies soon, they're just that good!

    OMG, labeling something before even watching it!

    So what if it's a movie? It's heavily researched and a very good documentary. What does it matter what medium is being used to portray it? If you don't have anything logical to add, just don't bother. Leave the red herrings for another day.


  • #80
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16,339 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    Big Knox wrote:
    I know i'm being harsh here but this kind of ignorance annoys me. :mad:

    But not this type:
    Big Knox wrote:
    I'm really really sorry to have to say this but... you are an idiot.

    ??


  • #81
    nesf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,635 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    Big Knox wrote:
    I'm really really sorry to have to say this but... you are an idiot.

    Congratulations on earning a week off from the forum for abuse. As a reward a free copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" will be sent to you in the post. Please enjoy its overly simplistic science and its simply false claim that carbon dioxide is the only cause of global warning.


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  • #82
    segadreamcast
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,870 ✭✭✭segadreamcast


    nesf wrote:
    Congratulations on earning a week off from the forum for abuse. As a reward a free copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" will be sent to you in the post. Please enjoy its overly simplistic science and its simply false claim that carbon dioxide is the only cause of global warning.

    It's designed for a mass medium. You have to keep things very, very simple to get such points across.

    This is something I've researched somewhat thoroughly in the last six months; have read several (reputable) books on the topic and, some things in the thread just stick out... I'm sure there are plenty but... I'll focus on what's at hand:

    Weather trends: "One swallow doesn't make a Summer". Indeed, it doesn't. However, an April that was on average eight percent above the previous record high? No? How about the fact that the ten warmest Summers recorded have been post-1995?

    Water shortages: Yes, take Australia as your example. Water shortages in Victoria were consistently talked about in Tim Flannery's 2002 book The WeatherMakers and, of course, here they are - becoming more and more severe. In fact, here's an article from this week: http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9071007

    Polar caps melting: The problem here (and, again, yes I'm being overly simplistic, but I think it's the best way to get the message across) is as such: ice reflects heat, water absorbs heat. If the polar caps become too warm and become water, the water is going to absorb even more heat from the sun, thus warming the oceans in a significant positive feedback loop, one which will destabilise currents such as the Gulf Stream... and then it becomes very, very unpredictable.

    Like I said, I'm sure there are a ton of anomalies and errors throughout this thread - and to those recommending An Inconvenient Truth, it's a very good start - despite what some people say.


  • #83
    nesf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,635 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    NoelRock wrote:
    It's designed for a mass medium. You have to keep things very, very simple to get such points across.

    I completely agree and admire it from that perspective. I'm just a little cautious of it, a bit like how you might lie to a child and say that the sun is a bit ball of fire. The problem with adults is that they can take the "fact" and run with it if you know what I mean.

    I suppose how I'd describe it would be, I'd tell my father to watch it to get the point across and once he was concerned by it all I'd sit him down, de-program him and bring him up to speed on a more "scientific" view.


  • #84
    brianthebard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,165 ✭✭✭✭brianthebard


    nesf wrote:
    Congratulations on earning a week off from the forum for abuse. As a reward a free copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" will be sent to you in the post. Please enjoy its overly simplistic science and its simply false claim that carbon dioxide is the only cause of global warning.

    *luvs nesf* yeah the film is something I'd give someone as a last resort, not as the be all and end all of global warming which too many people seem to think it is. (both here and irl)


  • #85
    Celticfire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,694 ✭✭✭Celticfire


    Al Gore:
    I believe it is appropriate to have an over-representation of factual presentations on how dangerous it [global warming] is, as a predicate for opening up the audience to listen to what the solutions are, and how hopeful it is that we are going to solve this crisis.

    :rolleyes:


  • #86
    AlmightyCushion
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 35,351 Mod ✭✭✭✭AlmightyCushion


    L31mr0d wrote:
    Also regardless of whether it will have an effect or not, we should all be investing in renewable energy. If not, you are going to start to see more and more nuclear power plants popping up all over the world as the substitute. The less reasons governments have to invest in nuclear energy as the solution the better

    While I do agree that we should be investing in more renewable energy. I don't believe we should rule out nuclear power altogether. Yes it does produce radioactive waste but if they can get nuclear fussion working this will produce more energy and less long-term high-level radiotoxic materials that nuclear fission does. They are building a fusion plant in France at the moment. I don't have much information on it myself but if anyone does please post as I would like to see how it is getting on.


  • #87
    WindSock
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    This constant sunshine is a pain in the hole. Ireland is not equipped to deal with it.


  • #88
    Glowing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,851 ✭✭✭Glowing


    I'm looking forward to the day when its affordable to produce your own energy at home to suppliment the ESB supply. At the moment, the payback is about 30-40 years (I think) for something like solar panals or wind turbines.

    ESB really need to put in place a method of buying back energy from residences if they generate more than they're using - (I think they have that in place in Belgium or Germany) ... but of course they'd loose money that way :rolleyes:


  • #89
    bobbyjoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 798 ✭✭✭bobbyjoe


    Celticfire wrote:
    Al Gore:

    :rolleyes:


    http://mediamatters.org/items/200605170011


  • #90
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    brianthebard wrote:
    *luvs nesf* yeah the film is something I'd give someone as a last resort, not as the be all and end all of global warming which too many people seem to think it is. (both here and irl)

    I disagree. We're not all climatologists, and so - a well laid out documentary for the average person is probably the easiest way to address the issue to people who otherwise were not aware of it.

    And once again, it's another day of blistering heat here. Short-term, the sun is great - Long-term, I really question the overall effects it will have on the world, which I'm afraid will be less than positive.


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  • #91
    L31mr0d
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    AlmightyCushion wrote:
    While I do agree that we should be investing in more renewable energy. I don't believe we should rule out nuclear power altogether. Yes it does produce radioactive waste but if they can get nuclear fussion working this will produce more energy and less long-term high-level radiotoxic materials that nuclear fission does. They are building a fusion plant in France at the moment. I don't have much information on it myself but if anyone does please post as I would like to see how it is getting on.

    Fusion is not even an option, its theoretical. I don't doubt that we will be able to create nuclear fusion but we need a solution being rolled out NOW. As it is, nuclear fission plants take longer than 10 years to build, at least. Plus with nuclear fission comes H-Bombs. I personally would rather our efforts to save this planet not giving every nation on it the power to destroy it. We need a working solution in place by the pegged deadline of 2050. At the present rate of melting, the Arctic will be gone by 2040. So that gives us around 32 years to have a working solution in place to at least slow this, and this will involve either:

    A. Dramatically decreasing our energy usuage (either we make the conscious decision to save energy or the governments to start implementing rolling blackouts) or
    B. we start building renewable energy plants (nuclear fission is not truly renewable)

    If I was to cast my vote I would go for hydropower, its eternally renewable, relatively easy to implement in many forms and can be rolled out anywhere on the planet. Its also tried, tested and trusted.


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