Northcentral New York State has received over 9 feet (yes, 9 FEET!) of snow in the past week. Global warming? At first glance, no. But the real story is an extremely warm winter prevented Lake Ontario from its normal freeze. So, now we have extreme lake effect snow, at record levels. I'm not taking a position on this issue, but just wanted to point out that this occured due to warming, not cooling!

http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/laketemps/laketemps.htm

If you look at the temp back in the 30's, it exceded the average more than in 2005. the 2006 graph didnt work.

Correction: Lake Ontario seldom ices over completely. But the lake was warmer further into the season this year. Also, I think that graph is for Lake Erie, not Lake Ontario.

Anybody who believes that lots of snow or cold at any particular place or time disproves global warming is a simpleton with no understanding of how weather works.

As a matter of fact, one widely-held theory states that the initial warming trend will disrupt global ocean currents(which act to distribute heat from the equatorial regions into the temperate zones), resulting in a hotter equator and colder poles, eventually triggering an ice age.

I agree with that Tadc, but I was hearing people say that all that snow in NY was counter to global warming, which is ridiculous. I was just making the point that a warmer Lake Ontario created this isolated extreme.

Has "Global Warming" been PROVEN to be caused by anything other than normal cycles and random variations?
Where is the test case? Which earthlike planet has been subjected to all the alledged causes and studied over a long period of time? Which relavant degree does Al Gore hold that makes him an authority?
Tdac, btw, how does weather work?

Global warming or not the bottom line for me is simply taking care of the planet we live on. Today's technology is allowing us to put into practice wise use of our resources. More and more large corporations are turning to "green" technology if not philosophy when it comes to saving energy.

It goes well beyond buying a hybrid, it's making better choices and always looking for ways to cut waste.

From the Good News Network:

Buying organic is becoming a global phenomenon and because "it takes a third of a pound of pesticides to produce one cotton T-shirt," organic cottonicon is becoming a sensible choice for consumers — and the big clothing chains that follow their lead. Target, H&M, Nike, Wal-Mart, and now, Victoria's Secret are all jumping on the organic cotton bandwagon.

Or this:

Virgin's Richard Branson is ready to hand over $25 million to anyone who can find ways to remove greehouse gases from our atmosphere. "For $25 million, people will do extraordinary things."

We used this story on the air:

Hewlett-Packard today announced that its redesigned print cartridge packaging for North America will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 37 million pounds in 2007 — the equivalent of taking 3,600 cars off the road for one year.

Those crazy college kids:

The University of Central Florida is using friendly competition between residence halls to encourage more students to turn off lights when they leave the room, turn off computers and other electrical equipment when not in use and take other steps to conserve energy.

This is inspiring:

A man from Bangladesh who is now a chemistry professor in Virginia spent years trying to find a solution to the arsenic problem infecting drinking water throughout his homeland. On Thursday the National Academy of Engineering awarded him a prize of $1million for his ultimate invention — a simple filter that removes most traces of the poison. He is using the prize money to make sure the filters are distributed to the poor in Bangladesh at risk of cancer because of the tainted well water.

I am deeply encouraged by what others are doing who haven't jumped on or jumped off the global bandwagon. We need people who are doers and making a difference.

Has "Global Warming" been PROVEN to be caused by anything other than normal cycles and random variations?

No.

Where is the test case?

There isn't one.

Which earthlike planet has been subjected to all the alledged causes and studied over a long period of time?

None.

Which relavant degree does Al Gore hold that makes him an authority?

None.

Tdac, btw, how does weather work?

Naturally.

I don't believe one has to have a degree in anything to become educated.

Al Gore is presenting information based on what he has learned from the scientific community and his own observations. Some scientists, like my cousin who is a professor of geology at PSU concur with Gore's assesments. Is it gospel? No. It's one man's educated opinion. Is it relavant? Depends on who is listening.

Redford- I didn't mean my reply as a disagreement to you. I think this is a perfect example of how Global Warming can have unexpected consequences.

62- Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

To answer your questions- we're living it, right here and now baby. Of course it's not *proven*, and few things scientific ever are. That's how science works - we study the *facts*, form a hypothesis, test(get more facts), adjust the theory, test more, repeat repeat repeat. Usually the theory ends up pretty damn close to truth, regardless of how many ignorant people wish to disregard that theory.

Which do you choose to believe, the well-informed, unbiased researchers/scientists, or the ignorant, politically or personally motivated gasbags?

BTW- it's tadc, as in Tad C. Kinda like Bill W.

"I don't believe one has to have a degree in anything to become educated."
This is correct, but only up to a point. If some talking head says you need to take drastic measures, you probably should doublecheck with some true experts, not some blabbermouth politically motivated spokesperson (i.e. Gore), and make sure your experts are not corrupted either. Is State Climatologist George Taylor an ignorant gasbag scientist, tadc?

Tadc, sorry, I often tpye crosseyed! Innconet Mitsake!

Tune into Scientist Dr. Bill W. 810 on your dial at 10 PM Sat and Sun.

I just figured out how to make Global Warming go away: Get Newt Gingrich, FoxNews, Hannity, Dick Cheney, etc, to join the cause bigtime! Like if Pat Roberton got on and said he received message from above that everyone had to cut their CO2 usage by 50%, then watch there be a SURGE of Progressives flocking to their nearest SUV dealers!

SURGE of Progressives...

Nope, you would have minor earthquake from all the thudding from shock and awe!

"Dr. Bill W."?!

12 steps to shaking the concrete scientific facts?

Chris, that was great stuff. I love having some hope.

LMAO @ Missing. I saw this on a bumper with the usual hilarious and serious Portland granola sentiments, "SUV = Source of Unspeakable Violence." Pithy.

Since this thread started, I have bit my tongue, but I have to weigh in here. My Mom grew up in what is affectionately know by the millions perched in the ocean as, "Upstate" New York. Yes, the place that got 9 feet of snow. Her particular neck of the woods is in an place the locals call the, "Finger Lakes" region. Like virtually all bodies of water in this fine state, it was an area well known for sportfishing.

I know, no surprise right? There are no fish anymore. None worth the time. My Uncle says that nobody even bothers to do it. In fact, there is so little wildlife left, local hunters get their primal fix by shooting at the literally thousands of local crows and hundreds of local coyotes between deer seasons. Often that personal bit of exercise and fresh air is accompanied by year round killing contests sponsored by local bars. (C'mon. You kill it, you eat it fellows, you know that's the rule of the woods.)

Global warming or not, we have left our poo-poo on every square inch of this planet. Our next "police action" ought to be an army of billions with garbage bags policing our trash. That might just "Solv" a bit of the problem. :o)

Two local sites about Upstate New York:
http://rochesterenvironment.com/finger_lakes.htm
http://www.savethecrows.org/

kind of surprising that the wildlife population has gone into the tank up there, Littlesongs.

My wife's family all hails in Michigan's upper peninsula ... an area not unlike upstate New York climate wise, just without the hills. (Sorry, there aren't "mountains" east of the Mississippi. They're HILLS.) Anyhow, the deer population has EXPLODED up there, to the point where the Michigan DNR is issuing, to landowners who have too much time on their hands, a doe tag a day. A tag a DAY, for does, during hunting season (which is like four months long). I've been up there the last two summers and in broad daylight even, I've seen several cars meet their death when they met a local deer head-on.

I don't know how much of this has to do with global warming as much as it has to do with the kill-off of natural predators (wolves and bears in Michigan, for example) ... and it's OUR doing that has thrown the delicate balance off. Whether it's upstate New York with no deer and fish left or the U.P. with TOO MANY deer and predatory fish, we have thrown it out of whack.

If Cheney makes speech proposing outlawing bird hunting, then following another 3.2 mag thudquake, watch the escalation of bicyclists go shopping at the Gun Room, GI Joes, etc, then organize once a month Critical Mass Crow Shoot.