JohnStOnge wrote:youngterrier wrote:All I'm going to say is that if you think AGW science is purely statistical, you're barking up the wrong tree.
Elaborate. I think the cause and effect inference is indeed purely statistical. I think it's actually hard for it to be any other way. But I want to hear what you have to say.
Well, the idea behind it is that historically speaking, the climate has changed naturally due to rises in temperatures due to carbon emissions (Green house effect) or by being closer to the sun for in these ways.
1) Solar activity
2) orbital activity
3) volcanic activity
4) Ocean currents
The climate changes when such things are changed in one of those ways. There is only possibly one other way, and it has something to do with cloud covering, but all data, evidence, etc has been inconclusive at best, or shown to have no effect at worst. If there is any other way, I'd like someone to enlighten me as to what hat would be.
Reasons 1-3 are in no way possible the fault of man. Ocean currents on the other hand, can be manipulated, changed, etc by the melting rate of the ice burgs and has been historically proven as such (as a force of nature of course). Also, carbon emissions are also proven to have a greenhouse effect (If I'm not mistaken the USAF proved this, or had a part in proving this). Also, it's no secret that Carbon emissions are up in the last 100 years, and it is also no secret that forest life is on the decline (so we have more CO2 in the air, and less trees to offset it via photosynthesis). The increase in heat on the planet, results in warmer temperatures, which results in the melting of ice bergs, which leads to climate change. Now, those facts alone do NOT conclusively prove that climate change.
Now comes in the statistics:
What makes one strongly believe it to be man made is the fact that in the last 100 years orbital, solar, and volcanic activity have been consistent, while statistically Carbon emissions are up, coinciding with temperatures, and there is data to support this. The data is often attempted to be discredited, but I have not read a legitimate criticism or exposure. Temperatures are climbing in the last 100 years at a constant rate especially in the last 20 or so years.
As for predictions, if you've read anything about the science (or what is considered "consensus"), the only thing believed to be consensus is that it is happening.
As for predictions, no credible scientist makes claims that are taken seriously and I can't stress this enough. If you have ever read anything about the science, that is one thing you should take away from it.
Sadly, it is sensationalized by some scientists who are deeply concerned, because the uncertainty is unsettling because it could be inconvenient or even disastrous. I myself do not talk about predictions, because they are probably the most polarizing aspects of the whole situation.
People cite Time Magazine from the 70s, and no legitimate scientist made claims of the ice age. Time didn't extremely poor reporting on that one. There was no scientific journal saying anything of the sort. If you're going to discuss global warming and try to "expose" it, don't cite non-scientific peer-reviewed journals.
There's a lot of falsehoods and myths out there, and certain figures like to "debate" about it, but said experts don't have degrees and mislead or misrepresent in ways such as the Time Magazine article. It's much like creationists trying to discredit evolution, the deniers will gladly get on a podium and debate for a news segment, but when it comes to debating online and in scientific literature, they get exposed.
That last paragraph was mainly my commentary, but other than that, that's the "science"