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Climate Doomsday

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Kerby Andersonnever miss viewpoints

This summer we will certainly hear that the warmer temperatures demonstrate that we are headed for a climate doomsday. That is why Vijay Jayaraj wrote an article with the provocative title, “Why Climate Doomsday Won’t Happen This Summer.” I suppose his predictions could be as accurate as any of the others we have heard. He has four points.

First, the world just experienced one of its coldest recorded winters in history. Cities like New York registered record snowfall (highest in 130 years). Many cities in the US and Canada broke 80-year old record-lows. Even the UK experienced snowy conditions well into spring.

He is quick to acknowledge that a cold winter doesn’t guarantee a mild summer. But he believes we might at least remind ourselves that global temperatures have not been increasing in the way we have been warned in the media.

Second, the global average temperature is rising, but it isn’t even close to the rate claimed by climate alarmists. At the very least it would suggest that the computer climate models are missing key data and information. If the models don’t model reality, something must be off. At least that is the conclusion we reached when I was in graduate school doing computer models and simulations.

Third, carbon dioxide emissions are not the primary driver of global temperatures. The last two decades constituted the highest increase in carbon dioxide. Yet, the rate of global temperatures was lower than in previous decades.

Finally, the Arctic and Antarctic ice masses are stable. Alarmists talk about Arctic melting because the Antarctic ice mass is increasing. In fact, even the Arctic mass is stable. And it is worth mentioning that the polar bear populations are stable.

These are just a few facts to remember the next time you hear someone in the media predicting an imminent climate doomsday.

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