Derek
You may have asked the wrong group for an answer to this.  Most of the patrons of this website believe that global warning is at best a rumor, and at worst a vast liberal conspiracy.

Now, if you'll excuse me, its 75 degrees here in Georgia on Nov. 21, and I'm going to play golf.

 

I'm not in denial about global warming, or man's impact on speeding it up.. its just that its been happening for about the last 10,000 years..

While PBGnotLinks may not be fit the category, the Japanese did build a lovely retaining wall along the ninth and tenth. It is mostly invisible.

But seriously, what about the effect of the earth's magnetic field in the midst of reversal of polarity?

Derek,
I told you so...

Derek - a topic similar to this was discussed a little while ago. Do a search on global waming on the search page, and you'll find some info.

Here's something I found:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=6056;start=msg115246#msg115246

Dan
"Most" could exclude anyone who feels that they want to be excluded, but it was really just intended to be a lighthearted warning to a new poster about the RELATIVELY conservative view of environmental issues vis a vis golf courses and golf course construction that TENDS to hold sway on this site, at least by raw numbers of posters.  The current temperature here is indeed anecdotal, and was intended for humor through irony only.

One recent example of evidence for global warming, however, would be the NASA report that the Artic ice sheet has been reduced by over 60%, and their estimate that we are only a few years away from NO Arctic ice sheet during the summer months, with concommitant rise in sea levels.  (I wish that I could remember the exact number of years; a number was given in their report.) That does NOT speak to the causes of global warming, only to the reality of it, especially given that NASA would rarely be identified with the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, or other such groups on the left end of the political/environmental spectrum.

With all of the loss of the ice sheet already reported, where is the corresponding rise in ocean water levels?  When that big sheet broke off Antartica a few years ago and was floating away and melting, was there any measurable rise in water levels?  What if all the polar ice melted?  Could it disapate into the fissures at the ocean floor, and be absorbed by the earth and other earth processes?  If I put icecubes in my drink, it rises the level, but it doesn't get more full as time passes by and the cubes melt...although not that much time generally passes in my drinks...

Dan,

Let me answer your question as well:

The theory is that the earth is warming due in large part to man's increased release of so-called greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, etc.)  into the atmosphere.

In science, one cannot prove a theory, but can only provide data that supports it (e.g., the aforementioned polar ice loss, 1998 being the hottest year on record and the top 10 hottest years of the 20th century being after 1980).

So the simple answer is that nobody has provided much peer-reviewed data that refutes it.  in fact, there is a scientific consensus (e.g., national academy of sciences 2000 report, 1995 UN sponsered effort of 2500 climate scientists, etc) that believes it will not be refuted.

the fossil fuel and nuclear industries among others have large financial interest in creating doubt about the global warming theory.  the global penalty is much higher for waiting too long to do anything about it, than it is for potentially erring on the side of caution.   besides, links golf is the best golf around.

The biggest problem with the model that predicts global warming, and the ramifications you suggest, is that once again the science used to create the model has come into question.

Only a few weeks ago an independent audit of the Koyoto models proved that there was imput errors and incorrect assumptions before 1850 (accurate data was recorded after that date). Whta it did was create a massive end spike, that when corrected looks more like a drunken but level line. While we are up in current times, we still do not match an incredibly warmer spell more that a 100 years ago. The result of this audit (by science not industry I might add), was that the model Koyoto was based upon was inaccurate; and that current assumptions of global warming can not be currently proved.

I do believe we will pay for our enviornmental choices, I'm just not as convinced on the truth of global warming. So don't sweat the seaside courses disappearing in 100 years.

Ian

I just purchased a nice oceanfront lot in Scottsdale!

damn - should have dug those bunker drain lines deeper

guess i should get the plumber in to dig the a deeper sump pump hole in the cellar

hey - i'm selling and moving to higher ground

Dan,

Let me answer your question as well:

The theory is that the earth is warming due in large part to man's increased release of so-called greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, etc.)  into the atmosphere.

Alex,

You are right, however what you may want to do about it instead of trying to shut down business or taking my SUV is just call Terminex.

"The single largest source of greenhouse my well be termites, whose digestive activities are responsible for about 50 Billion tons of CO2 and Methane annually.  This is 10 times more than the the present world production of CO2 from burning of all fossil fuels."

Of course I didnt mention that behind termites one of the biggest offenders is that same digestion and flatulence only this time from cows.  I didnt mention it because most of the same people that want to take away my SUV also would probably prefer that they take away my steak also.