clair031

Summary .   The atmospheric CO 2 concentration has just exceeded 400 ppm, and is continuing to grow.   More importantly, contemporary CO 2 levels since the industrial revolution have always exceeded the highest levels found in the geological record for 800,000 years.   Furthermore, the rate of growth of atmospheric CO 2 levels is itself accelerating.   The excess CO 2 originates from burning fossil fuels.   Changes in CO 2 levels in the geological record, while considerable, occur on a scale roughly 60 times slower than the contemporary changes.   Introduction . Contemporary climate scientists have been monitoring the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), a major greenhouse gas, for many decades.   Prior to that, paleoclimate scientists, those who seek to reconstruct ancient climates using the geological record, have examined CO 2 contained in ice cores drilled in major glaciers and ice fields, among other modalities for estimating a...

Summary .   The Yale University-George Mason University project on Climate Change Communication issued its latest public opinion survey on Americans’ beliefs about global warming on May 1, 2013 .   Almost 60% believe global warming is having an effect on weather in the U. S.   The proportion of Americans believing this has grown about 12% since Spring 2012.   About 80% indicated they personally experienced at least one out of a group of several types of extreme weather or extreme climate in the past year. The U. S. Congress has not approved any energy program addressing global warming in the last 16 years even though the objective reality that it is occurring, and leading to severe harms to lives, structures and society, is clear.   There are many factors entering into a policymaker’s deliberations on how to vote on global warming legislation, including the sentiments of his/her constituents.   Surveys such as that reviewed here show that generally the Am...