[Kona Palangi]

Originally Posted by Scotracer

I was studying this last term. What happens is the increase in temperature increases the rate/level of evaporation from the earth's water systems which then causes increased cloud levels. Clouds, being white reflect UV radiation from the sun which in turn reduces the average world temperature. Of course, anyone with 1/100th of a brain (and maybe even Shane) can deduce that this is cyclic because, as the temperature falls again the rate of evaporation decreases and the earth will then heat up again....

The Polar Ice Sheet covers roughly 13 million kilometers. The Antarctic Ice Sheet covers roughly 15 million kilometers. Combined, there is approximately 30 million kilometers of ice pack on the planet earth when various other Ice Sheets such as the Greenland and West Antarctic are included. Obviously this is an enormous amount of ice sheets in climates which are extreme to say the least. It has been scientifically observed that the albedo of each cap is decreasing which simply put means these ice sheets are reflecting less UV energy while absorbing much more. It doesn’t take a physicist to deduce that greater UV absorption will accelerate the evaporation and melting of said sheets. When these sheets melt, however so slight, they then move forward and begin the process of Thermohaline Circulation, something I’m sure you are familiar with Scott. This process circulates water from as far north as Greenland to as far south as New Zealand. It is an extremely important function in maintaining the earth’s climate globally. Because these Ice Sheets are predominately fresh water, they are then circulated in the salty oceans. For the most part, partial melts have very little effect on our immediate climate but it is hypothetically plausible that a dramatic influx in severely cold fresh water could alter or halt the Thermohaline Circulation altogether. This would be catastrophic.

My issue is simple, many in the scientific community place blame on mankind for the melting of the precious caps. There is a lack of any substantiated evidence that would lead me to believe we have anything to do with it. For all humankind knows, it could all be a natural occurrence or it could be Ed and the ****ing Hummer he drives. The bottom line is the scientific data is there but alone it is not definitive. Some want us to take blame while others, like me, don’t really give a **** but do acknowledge something is going on. If one were to ask me, I’d have to say Global Warming is a farce utilized as a scare tactic to drum up support for politicians on both sides of the aisle, albeit one side more than the other. Until I am provided with irrefutable evidence which proves beyond a reasonable doubt we are at fault, I’ll be burning fuel, keeping my Plasma TV on at night and using incandescent light bulbs so I can see the refrigerator in my garage at night.