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Automotive News & Views Are automobiles a major cause of global warming?
6849 messages, Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 1:15 PM
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Replying to: gagrice (Oct 28, 2008 5:53 am) It would be curious to see how many weather records have been broken this decade vs the previous one. I'm sure a computer model could compensate for the difference in the length of time. Then we could find another computer modeler to compare weather to climate. |
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Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Oct 28, 2008 5:27 am)  You would think by now significant portions of NYC would be under water due to the artic melting ... I am now in shorts and short sleeve polo shirt (not in upstate NY). But then it was that way before I left for upstate NY, and by all indications 34 years later is pretty much the same. I might have to put on socks to break this global warming cloud cover that is fixing to burn off, and go to 77 degrees. |
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Replying to: avalon02wh (Oct 28, 2008 4:26 am) The Earth only has a molten core because the sun keeps it relatively warm on the outside. The Earth - in the cold of space, absent the sun, would be frozen solid fairly early in its 4 billion year history. There would be no daily rotation, and no magnetic fields generated in the core. There is a relatively minor amount of radioactive materials that might provide a degree or 2 of heat. The Sun thru its gravity provides the rotational energy, and the bathing radiation and light, and warmth to keep the core molten, the ocean's unfrozen and the magnetic fields around and in the Earth. The Sun is the original source of all energy that has, is and will be used on Earth. http://www.astronomynotes.com/starsun/s3.htm "The first basic question about the Sun is how bright is it? It puts out A LOT of energy every second. How much? The answer from our measurements is 4 × 10(X26) watts. Such a large number is beyond most of our comprehension, so let's put the Sun's total energy output (ie., its luminosity) in more familiar units. It is equal to 8 × 10(X16) of the largest power plants (nuclear or hydroelectric) on the Earth. Our largest power plants now can produce around 5,000 Megawatts of power. Another way to look at this is that the sun puts out every second the same amount of energy as 2.5 × 10(X9) of those large power plants would put out every year---that's over two billion!"
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Replying to: avalon02wh (Oct 28, 2008 3:54 am) One other point though: many people don't understand the difference between correlation and causality. Just because humans may have increased CO2 output and global temperatures may have risen doesn't mean there's any relationship between the two. We have a correlation. Yes CO2 is a greenhouse gas, but the percentage increase of CO2 presently in the atmosphere is tiny. Some studies suggest that elevated temperatures cause CO2 release trapped in ocean waters... I'm all for research, but determining causality with absolute certainty requires control of all other factors. I'm skeptical humans are even remotely close to having this capability for a system so large as the earth. The primary reason there are so many conflicts for what is the best "diet" is failure to be able to control for all factors. |
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Replying to: sidious6688 (Oct 27, 2008 6:26 pm) The only one that I can remember that actually screwed up and solved or helped solve a problem was the old March of Dimes for polio. Remember those little cards with slots that all us kids filled with dimes? 
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Replying to: avalon02wh (Oct 28, 2008 3:54 am) This generation is tired of the nonsense and "dirty stick" that our ancestors have left for us and people like you that don't want to help clean up the mess and prevent future messes. |
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Replying to: mediapusher (Oct 28, 2008 8:59 pm) Thats not quite the same topic. I'm all for non polluting clean electric vehicles and a "clean" environment. I just got back from a national park and love nothing better than a pristine environment. I'm talking about Global Warming! I never said I advocate pollution. I'm just tired of all those brainwashed by the media to think that GW caused by humans is a fact. I agree totally about past generations causing future generations problems, but sadly this is nothing new. The people like me comment is putting me in a category without any merit. The fact that I'm not convinced humans are the primary cause of GW or may not even be able to influence it does not mean in any way that I advocate trashing the planet. Also humankind's impact on global temperatures is the the topic at hand. if you don't care why read the forum? |
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Replying to: mediapusher (Oct 28, 2008 8:59 pm) I have been waiting for solutions that are practical for decades. The Tax payers have tossed Billions at the problems with little to show for it. Much of what is developed does not see the light of day. Fossil fuel is still the least expensive way to do all the things we like to do. When the supply gets nearly depleted in the next 200-400 years we may or may not have an alternative. We have learned to burn fossil fuel with a lot less damage to the air. That is progress. I'm on the side that says Climate Change is inevitable and man probably has little to do with it. And even if we do the larger populations in China and India are not going to squelch progress to avoid additional GHG. Taxing carbon as is proposed is just another government scam to screw the working man. Corporations just pass any higher cost of doing business to you and I. The wealthy could care less if their utility bills double. For those of US lower on the food chain it can be financial disaster.
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Replying to: gagrice (Oct 29, 2008 6:34 am) State rejects PG&E contract for wave energy..... link title So does anybody REALLY want to get off fossilized fuels? But I do have to admit droning on about it is far cheaper than doing anything about it.
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Replying to: mediapusher (Oct 28, 2008 8:59 pm) Be careful now; the computer you're typing on is probably THE WORST product for creating toxic waste during the manufacture of its parts, and its recycling. I believe our junk electronics get sent to 3rd world areas, where villagers strip these parts and melt down the metals over open coal fires.
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