Via NASA’s Global Climate Change page comes this 1989 video of science fiction author and biochemistry professor Isaac Asimov. As the NASA blog points out, if you change the coloring of the video, the facial hair style, and switch out Asimov for someone else, the video could pretty much have been made today. Only Asimov spoke without fear of retaliation from anti-science, pro-pollution wingnuts like Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
“I have been talking about the greenhouse effect for 20 years at least,” says Asimov in the video. “And there are other people who have talked about it before I did. I didn’t invent it.” As the NASA website points out, global warming, and the idea that humans can change the climate, is not new. Here’s some science 101 on the greenhouse effect, and it’s connection to our burning of fossil fuels:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6tSYRY90PA&feature=player_embedded]
More links:
On Quirks & Quarks 35th Anniversary Special on how science has changed in the last 35 years they mention in the late seventies climate scientists has concluded that global warming from carbon dioxide was going to win out over global cooling effects from other pollutants (like particulates, which have been greatly reduced since then anyway).
Great link, thanks! I’m going to download it and listen to it this weekend. I noticed Danny Harvey is on the panel – I heard him speak at a “Climate Change as a Moral Issue” conference in Toronto last April. He’s impressive, and keeps repeating the message – the climate is changing, and it is a crucial issue, folks, it needs to be addressed NOW.
Yet another thoughtful and timely article Christine.
Despite the unending science to back up claims of climate change, Mr. Harper still manages to maintain his god-like ability to brush it under the carpet.
Wouldn’t it be interesting to see a debate between Isaac and Mr. Harper on the subject.
For several years I kept the weather records here, hi-low temperature and rainfall. This also included noting any especially high tides – a further result of climate change via the greenhouse gases. I am distressed to say that the highest tide has risen more than 4 inches over a period of only 10 years. While you may not think that 4/10″ per year average amounts to much, over 100 years that would be slightly over 1 meter.
A direct result of this locally was a boatyard on Gabriola Island flooding for the first time in recorded history.
A second result revolves around the fact that when the temperature is right around 0ºC, we tend to get higher snowfalls than if it is much colder. Examples of this are routinely noted in cold areas (The Yukon for example) wherein there is snow as the winter temperatures take hold, very little when it is very cold, and more again as the winter is drawing to an end.
Again locally, in January of 2005, we experienced an unusually high snowfall. So much so that 3,000 trees were knocked to the ground. Many of the large Douglas Firs and Arbutus trees were 200 years old and in their prime. This was an unprecedented event and nobody here had ever seen anything remotely similar before. And this on a small island only 1.4 miles long and .4 mile wide.
The final effect that we see here on a very regular basis is the steadily increasing amount of wind. Lest you think that climate change has nothing to do with the wind, let me assure you otherwise. Our coastal area of B.C. has experienced record setting winds over the past several years, including a number of times extending well into hurricane speed area (74 m.p.h.+).
One has to wonder where it will all end.
Good point, Keith, I’ve seen studies linking increased wind intensity with the warming atmosphere. Where will it all end, indeed.
I learned this at university in the early 1980s. It was taught as fact not as theory. No one disputed it then.
Good point, Laurie – speaking of which, you might appreciate this article: http://www.desmogblog.com/michael-mann-suing-tim-ball-libel