Not the problem
Jeremy Mitchell-Koch
Monday, April 23, 2007
I WOULD LIKE to respond to Ron Brockelman’s letter critiquing both Doug McGaw and Al Gore’s stance on the climate crisis.
Mr. Brockelman’s proposed solution to the problem of global warming is to have Mr. McGaw and Mr. Gore stop exhaling because he characterizes human respiration as the primary source of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). While it is true that animal respiration contributes to CO2 emissions, this carbon is part of a natural cycle. Animals consume food to provide them with energy. The food is derived mostly from carbon-based plants and animals. In the body this fuel is “burned” in a chemical reaction with oxygen and produces energy, water, and carbon dioxide.
The CO2 is subsequently exhaled into the atmosphere, where growing plants uptake it. In general, this cycle does not contribute to the rise in atmospheric CO2 levels because the carbon is recycled, and Mr. Brockelman’s intimation that this is the primary cause of global climate change is erroneous. Fossil fuels used to power our society also produce CO2 when they are burned, but plant growth or absorption by the oceans cannot fully compensate for this huge excess in carbon emissions. This leads to increased atmospheric CO2 levels that trap extra heat in the atmosphere.
The global climate is complex, and no one event can be blamed on global warming. Current models suggest that global climate change due to increased CO2 levels is manifest in more severe and erratic weather in addition to increased temperatures. We need to greatly reduce CO2 emissions by way of a comprehensive energy plan that embraces renewable technologies such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric powers. I envision that the use and implementation of these technologies by visionary business leaders, principled politicians, and educated citizens will avert or ameliorate any further climate crisis.
goliberal (anonymous) says...
Amen!
I wonder how to sell this point to those who still see this valid informaiton as a "theory". Or worse yet, those who don't believe that the earth has been around for more than ten thousand years because of religious reasons. There is so much mis-information that religion and politicians who support big-business put out there. It's hard to convince people that global warming is a monumental issue when some of them won't even buy into the idea that dinosaurs existed. Geez.
April 23, 2007 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fcoles (anonymous) says...
Thank you for the article.
Current alarmist, incompetent stories regarding CO2 Causing Climate Change is a fraud.
Junk science is infesting the media, the Internet and public schools, affecting public health, squandering your tax dollars, poisoning sick people and miseducating our children.
Pseudoscientific claptrap abounds. Quackery is now found everywhere.
Educate, inform yourself, take a science class.
See CO2 and Climate Change
http://www.InteliOrg.com/co2_climate_...
Stop listening to folks that have a financial interest in the subject.
April 24, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceboy11 (anonymous) says...
An interesting point: fcoles says that junk science is infesting the internet and then they reference a website to "educate" us on global climate science. Seems a bit backwards, don't you think. I would hope fcoles has some more concrete evidence to support his/her position. Peer reviewed scientific literature would be much better than this website.
As the author of the letter to the editor, I would like to share with fcoles that I am educated, informed, and I took several science classes while I pursued my Bachelor's of Science in chemistry (Furman 1998), my doctorate in chemistry (University of Kansas 2003), and postdoctoral studies in chemistry (University of Michigan 2003-2005).
April 24, 2007 at 1:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
The BBC released a documentary titled "The Great Global Warming Swindle", which is also an eye-opener. Quite a few eminent scientists presenting some facts that seem to regularly get overlooked or ignored. Some have even had to threaten legal action to have their name removed from Gore's "documentary". And of course, disagree and your funding is gone. Anyway, it's a great documentary - I suggest anyone wishing to be informed to watch this documentary (if it is possible to find it - maybe from the BBC itself), and if you still believe one way or the other, at least you can say you looked at the evidence with a fair and open mind and came to your own conclusions....
Strangely, it seems the video keeps disappearing from the web every time it surfaces... can anyone explain why? If we live in a world of free speech and free expression of differing opinions, why is it this documentary is constantly being pulled? Anyway, try the links below, I believe the first one still works (as of this moment)...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...
http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story......
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,2589......
http://www.archive.org/details/The_Great......
April 24, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Doug (anonymous) says...
And scientists are never wrong! Just watch the weather forecast.
April 24, 2007 at 4:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )