Gilligan wrote:
Oh those silly bloviators at NOAA!
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html
Again you post an article that undermines your argument:
"Is the climate warming? Yes. Global surface temperatures have
increased about 0.6°C (plus or minus 0.2°C) since the late-19th
century, and about 0.4°F (0.2 to 0.3°C) over the past 25 years
(the period with the most credible data). "
So, it very plainly states that global warming is happening. There is
no real debate about this.
Now, why is the climate getting warmer? The primary theory is forcing
due to increased concentration of greehouse gasses. Are greenhouse
gasses increasing due to human activity? Well, yes:
"Human activity has been increasing the concentration of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere (mostly carbon dioxide from combustion of
coal, oil, and gas; plus a few other trace gases). There is no
scientific debate on this point. "
What about naturally occuring changes in solar radiation? Do that play
a part? Yes, but:
"...the contribution of direct solar irradiance forcing is small
compared to the greenhouse gas component. ...for the prediction of
climate change in the 21st century, these changes will be far less
important than radiative forcing from greenhouse gases."
It's a pretty good article. I'd recommend everyone reading it. Just
take off the partisan blinders before you do.
//Walt