Nat. Hurricane Conference Debates Influence Of, Existence Of Warming

[hatrack]

No, I'm not making this up.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Is global warming to blame for the past two horrific hurricane seasons? Yes, says Judith Curry, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her argument: Worldwide sea surface temperatures have increased by about 1 degree since 1970, resulting in about 50 percent more tropical storm activity than normal.

No, counters Jim O'Brien, a professor of meteorology and oceanography at Florida State University. His point: Since 1850, the Earth has undergone numerous warming and cooling cycles and there has been no distinct trend in the overall intensity of hurricane seasons.

The debate by the two climate experts at Friday's National Hurricane Conference took on added importance in light of the past season that produced a record 28 storms and 15 hurricanes.

EDIT

In a separate speech, during the conference's final session, storm prognosticator William Gray, who has been at the forefront of the international debate, said blaming humans for global warming is "so much foolishness." He, too, believes the Earth has experienced a natural pattern of warming and cooling, and it likely will cool off again within the next 20 years. He said the amount of carbon dioxide produced by greenhouse gases in the past 30 years isn't nearly enough to produce the amount of warming in that period.

EDIT

Whatfuckingever.

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/nation/14345868.htm

[niallmac]

1. Oh I am so damn re assured..

Just because present carbon dioxide release rate into the atmosphere is THIRTY times faster than has occurred in the past when similar warming episodes have occurred is
no reason to think we have done anything wrong. I'm going to write my senator and encourage abandoning all CO2 restrictions on our family friendly corporate industries.
Well, maybe I'll do that after I research who the hell William Gray is beholden to.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/uoc--soa021006.php

[phantom power]

2. I hope old Jim lives to see how profoundly wrong he is.