Jun 21 2007
How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic
"How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic," a series by Coby Beck contains responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming. There are four separate taxonomies; arguments are divided by:
From warming is due to the Urban Heat Island effect to there is no consensus and climate models are unproven to it was warmer during the Holocene Climatic Optimum, Cody does a great job of explaining the science in climate science in a clear and concise way. He tackles not only the common arguments but also the more obscure. For instance, I’ve never actually heard anyone argue that the CO2 rise is natural, but there’s the article for anyone to read.
By analyzing the isotopes of the carbon and oxygen atoms making up atmospheric CO2, in a process similar to carbon dating, scientists can and have detected a human “fingerprint.” What they have found via the isotope signatures can be thought of as “old” carbon, which could only come from fossil fuel deposits, combined with “young” oxygen, as is found in the air all around us. So present day combustion of fossilized hydrocarbon deposits (natural gas, coal, and oil) is definitely the source of the CO2 currently accumulating — just as common sense tells us.
For more of the nitty gritty technicalities straight from the climate scientists, including links to the actual research that established this, visit RealClimate’s article on how we know the CO2 is ours.
The only critique I have is that I would like to see more references to the original journal articles. I know that most people won’t read them, but for those truely interested it gives them an opportunity to delve more deeply into each issue. For instance, on the isotope question the following could have been cited (directely from the linked RealClimate page, which is the second best option).
Stuiver, M., Burk, R. L. and Quay, P. D. 1984. 13C/12C ratios and the transfer of biospheric carbon to the atmosphere. J. Geophys. Res. 89, 1731–1748.
Francey, R.J., Allison, C.E., Etheridge, D.M., Trudinger, C.M., Enting, I.G., Leuenberger, M., Langenfelds, R.L., Michel, E., Steele, L.P., 1999. A 1000-year high precision record of d13Cin atmospheric CO2. Tellus 51B, 170–193.
Quay, P.D., B. Tilbrook, C.S. Wong. Oceanic uptake of fossil fuel CO2: carbon-13 evidence. Science 256 (1992), 74-79.
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