CLIMATE CHANGE SKEPTICS David Lowry, Zawadi Baharanyi, Greg Kremler, Ricardo Carreno

OVERVIEW How do climate change skeptics construct their argument? How do climate change skeptics dispute evidence that suggests global warming is real? From whom do climate change skeptics receive their funding? How are climate change skeptics viewed within the larger scientific community?

Rising Temperatures Temperatures have actually cooled since 1989. Response: 1989 was the warmest year on record due to an unusually strong El Niño event (cherry-picking). Atmospheric water vapor contributes more to the greenhouse effect than CO2 emissions ever will. Response: Atmospheric water vapor levels vary as a function of temperature, not vice-versa.

Melting Glaciers and Ice Sheets The Greenland Ice Sheet is growing. Response: They are accumulating snow in the center, but actually melting around the edges (net loss = approximately 100 gigatons per year) The Western Antarctic Ice Sheet is accumulating mass. Response: Ross Ice Streams are becoming inactive, leading to accumulation of ice mass (process is independent of global warming)

Increased Droughts and Floods Paleoclimatic archives preserve evidence of abrupt climate change Multidecadal drought implicated in the collapse of the classic Mayan civilization in the ninth century (P & D Review 30(3), 2004) (http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=00987921%28200409%2930%3A3%3C563%3AACCIS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6)

Increased Droughts and Floods Multiple climate models predict weather polarization Areas already wet are likely to get wetter while those water stressed are likely to feel it more (Harder B, 2005) (http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0036-8423%2820051119%29168%3A21%3C325%3AGWAD%3E2.0.CO%3B2-1)

Hurricane/Tropical Cyclone Activity Whereas overall frequency of hurricane occurrence remains stable, there has been a prevalence of higher intensity storms that correlates with global warming Power-dissipation index of storms has doubled in past thirty years (Emanuel K, 2005) (ftp://texmex.mit.edu/pub/emanuel/PAPERS/NATURE03906.pdf)

What is Mass Extinction?

What does global warming have to do with Mass Extinction? EVERYTHING Minimum Predicted warming= 18% Mid range Predicted warming= 24% Maximum Predicted warming= 35% Predications as reported in Peer-reviewed Nature Magazine in 2004. IPCC predictions: 1.4—5.8 degrees Celsius.

Or NOTHING… Species often thrive well outside their gross climatic "envelope." Temperatures have been bouncing up and down a lot more than 0.8°C during the past several hundred thousand years. Global climate models, in general, predict a warmer surface and an increased rate of rainfall. As long as there is adequate moisture, the most diverse ecosystems on earth are in the warmest regions, the tropical rainforest being the prime example. Consequently, the general character of future climate is one which is more, not less hospitable for biodiversity. AS TOLD BY PATRICK MICHAELS Not Peer-reviewed, not substantially supported with scientific evidence!

Sea Levels!

 Sea Levels IPCC (2001) predicts that the average temperature will increase by between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius (2.5- 10.4 F). Scientists have calculated that if the average temperature in Greenland increases by almost 3° Celsius, its ice sheet will begin to melt. Many experts believe the concentration of C02 in the atmosphere will have reached levels around the year 2100 that would cause the temperature to rise to such levels. (Stefan Lovgren for National Geographic News)

The Issue with Greenland If Greenland's ice sheet melted the oceans would raise seven meters (23 feet), threatening to submerge cities located at sea level from London to Los Angeles. Even partial melting ( 1 meter rise) would have vast negative consequences for countries like Bangladesh.

Sea Levels Cont’d The fact is, that planet Earth has been losing ground. It seems to be like a battle between land and sea and the ocean is slowly, but surely gaining the advantage. Glaciers are slowly melting and retreating. It will be no surprise for this generation to see a dramatic change in landscape. We are going to have to come with ways to deal with this threat now for those the come after us.