Tuesday 24 April 2007

What is happening to the climate, and should we worry about it

On 30th April Dr Zoe Fleming, Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University will talk about

“What is happening to the climate, and should we worry about it?”

Zoe carried out Atmospheric chemistry research, with field work in Arctic & Antarctic. Media and company research for Greenpeace. Interested in our responsibility towards respecting our environment and living a sustainable lifestyle.

This is a vital subject. What questions would you like Zoe to answer? Add them here now! Click on Comments below.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Historic (verified) data shows that changes in temperature PRECEDE changes in CO2 levels. This being the case why should we believe that C02 emissions can have any measurable impact on the climate?

Is it not also the case that C02 concentrations in the atmosphere have previously been considerably higher than they are now? Way before industrialisation?

Phil Brown said...

It's better if references can be given to 'data', such as a web-link. There are many unsubstantiated 'facts' flying around in this area.

Anonymous said...

Reference for data:
Fischer, H., Wahlen, M., Smith, J., Mastroianni, D. and Deck B. 1999. Ice core records of atmospheric CO2 around the last three glacial terminations. Science 283: 1712-1714.

What was done:
The authors examined contemporaneous records of atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature derived from Antarctic ice cores that extended back in time through the last three glacial-interglacial transitions.

What was learned:
In all three of the most recent glacial terminations, the earth warmed well before there was any increase in the air's CO2 content. In the words of the authors, "the time lag of the rise in CO2 concentrations with respect to temperature change is on the order of 400 to 1000 years during all three glacial-interglacial transitions." During the penultimate (next to last) warm period, there is also a 15,000-year time interval where distinct cooling does not elicit any change in atmospheric CO2; and when the air's CO2 content gradually drops over the next 20,000 years, air temperatures either rise or remain fairly constant.