Ancient Flood Brought Gulf Stream To A Halt

New Scientist ^ | 12-6-2007 | Fred Pearce

[Grimmy]

Heck no!! You know the paperwork that’s involved in that job? And forget about vacation time!

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, saving humanity should be its own reward. ;’)

[Grimmy]

Yeah, it should be.
You’re more organized. You do it.

I’ll stand back, over here, and critique your efforts. I’m much better at that than I am at doing anything that might actually or accidentally be useful.

[SunkenCiv]

You stole my idea!

[ChessExpert]

Just over 8000 years ago, a huge glacial lake in Canada burst, and an estimated 100,000 cubic kilometres of fresh water rushed into the North Atlantic. Researchers now say they know for sure

I doubt that scientists know anything for sure for 8,000 years ago. Nor do credible researchers speak that way - for sure. As is so often the case, it is hard to distinguish between the views of scientists and those who report. This may be 90% Fred Pearce speaking for all I know.

In the 1970s, we were told that scientists were in agreement that we were entering a new ice age. I want to know what happened. I want some accountability. I want James Hansen, Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Newsweek, Time, the New York Times, the Washington Post and others to admit that they were wrong. They should admit that they were wrong, and explain why they were wrong.

Here are some simple questions for the press and "scientists." Why did you predicted ice ages in the 1970s? What were your mistakes? Why should we listen to you now?

[Grimmy]

Muahahaha!
I do have a good blend of both claim jumper and cattle rustler in my family heritage. Gotta go with my strengths.

[night reader]

What caused the rise in temperature 10,000 years ago that caused the alleged flood?

The Atlanteans, of course! Our Beloved Mother Earth, Gaea revolted against human technological advances. What's more, the global warming back then was caused by Bush's 176th great-grandfather!!!

[Publius6961]

Here are some simple questions for the press and "scientists." Why did you predicted ice ages in the 1970s? What were your mistakes? Why should we listen to you now?

Because they were suddenly struck deaf and dumb; and stupid. They don't have to explain a thing, since their agenda was to frighten and ultimately to control.

Besides, now it's "climate change", so you can stop flaunting your knowlege superiority.

Even notice that the cost of "global warming" is advancing 50 times as fast as verifiable facts are being generated? I'm referring, of course, to the anthropogenic factor, as well as any demonstrable theory that the combined resources of the entire earth would have any significant effect on million-years-old natural processes.

[Robert A Cook PE]

What this “over-educated” writer (and the politically-corrupt “scientists” feeding him this alarmist story) doesn’t realize is that THERE IS NO ICE OVER NORTH AMERICA right now.

REGARDLESS of the change in temperatures from “global warming” (which appears to have peaked anyway at 1/2 of one degree) there is simply no Ice Age glaciers covering tens of millions of acres across mid-America.

So NONE can melt and thus the Gulf Stream simply cannot stop. Now, nor in the future. It CANNOT happen - regardless of who is predicting it will happen for financial gain.

Yes, it appears to have happened 8000 years ago. That it happened 8000 years ago is irrelevant to today’s political debates.

That temperatures in 1100 were warmer than they are today IS relevant, but that fact is (deliberately) NOT being reported by the AGW alarmists. That temperatures in 1600 were colder than they are today is relevant, but that fact ALSO is NOT being reported.

[Robert A Cook PE]

I’ll grant the “accuracy” of the flood 8000 years ago (8000 BC probably - 10000 before present perhaps is what should have been written. Further, a sudden release of melt water from behind glacier-plugged regions is plausible, and does explain many features in the land. (Not ancient Flood legends though - that'd be more likely from tales about a comet strike off Madagascar about 12,000 year-ago.

The absolute error - the unpardonable error that exposes this story as a fraudulent exaggeration - is PROJECTING the sudden flood by melting ICE AGE glaciers to a future melting of today’s glaciers, thereby creating a second flood and a second stopping of the Gulf Stream.

The Ice Age “lake” impounded by glacier dams simply are NOT present right now. There is NO WAY to have that much water released, nor that much melted. It CANNOT happen -> The Gulf Stream CANNOT stop again.

Never mind that we have seen only a 1/2 of one degree rise over 27 years - and that supposed global warming itself has “stopped” from 1997 though 2007: there has been NO rise in temperature for 10 of the past 36 years!

So, even assuming that temps rise again, sudden melting is irrelevant to today’s political discussions about raising taxes on the US to fund corrupt dictators in the UN and socialist Europe (er, Russia.)

[mission9]

Another point which is obvious, but rarely discussed: sea ice will not cause a rise in sea level. If an ice cube melts in your glass the water does not spill out over the rim and onto the table. Water weighs the same, frozen or liquid, and so displaces the same volume.

Melting Arctic sea ice may make possible regular sea trade via that age old dream, the North west passage. The more efficient transport could result in a smaller carbon footprint for ships traveling from Europe to Asia.

[Mr. K]

How does a lake ‘burst’?

oh...- and I am a computer software engineer (I write software) I can program a model to make it give you any output you want it to have... so I laugh every time they site ‘computer models’

[aught-6]

Are there any intelligent reporters left?

Do you want the short answer or the long answer?