National Geographic: Melting Mars Means Man-Made Global Warming a Myth

NewsBusters, National Geographic ^ | 3/1/2007 | Noel Sheppard

[AT7Saluki]

...Regardless, the earth-shattering piece began ...

Simultaneous warming on Earth and Mars suggests that our planet's recent climate changes have a natural—and not a human-induced—cause, according to one scientist's controversial theory.

The article marvelously continued:

Earth is currently experiencing rapid warming, which the vast majority of climate scientists says is due to humans pumping huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. (Get an overview: "Global Warming Fast Facts".)

Mars, too, appears to be enjoying more mild and balmy temperatures.

In 2005 data from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey missions revealed that the carbon dioxide "ice caps" near Mars's south pole had been diminishing for three summers in a row.

Habibullo Abdussamatov, head of the St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in Russia, says the Mars data is evidence that the current global warming on Earth is being caused by changes in the sun.

"The long-term increase in solar irradiance is heating both Earth and Mars," he said.

[AT7Saluki]

Seems like something else is melting fast: Algore et.al.'s 15 minutes. And note that the theory that GW ISN'T happening is controversial.

[taxed2death]

http://www.cassiopaea.org/cass/waveindex.htm
spoooooky stuff.

[daku]

either check the emmisions on the rovers or ...

take back the oscar from al bore

[r9etb]

And note that the theory that GW ISN'T happening is controversial.

That's only the first question. Global warming may well be happening. Assuming it is, the second and more important question is: what's causing it?

Folks tend to combine these two questions such that "Global Warming, Therefore Our Fault".

The counter by such noted scientists as Mr. Limbaugh is to say, "Not Our Fault, therefore No Global Warming."

Interestingly, these are logically equivalent statements -- and both wrong.

[RockinRight]

Ban SUV's on Mars.

[RockinRight]

Tinfoil stuff too.

[RockinRight]

If Mars is warming anyway, let's terraform the damn place and turn it into a CONSERVATIVE planet-wide Republic like the US is supposed to me. ;-)

[upchuck]

Based on reading from both sides of the controversy, IMHO, global warming is indeed happening. But it is being caused by the sun and there is little we mere mortals can do about it.

Methinks part of this "mass hysteria" is to allow a bunch of people to apply for funding to keep chasing something that doesn't exist.

If global warming is debunked, they'll have to find a real job.

[Smokin' Joe]

About time!

[pillut48]

Better yet, let's ban AlGoracle to Mars and let him preach to the choir! ;-)

[mtbopfuyn]

It's the little green men's fault.

[L98Fiero]

I've always thought that those who expect our climate to remain static are the kooks.

Of course global warming is happening. As this and other articles contend, it's not just happening on earth and there is no hard reason to believe it is a bad thing or caused by man.

I'm angry because the weather has been hijacked as a political platform by Democrats. The freakin' WEATHER.

[bmwcyle]

[GourmetDan]

"Based on reading from both sides of the controversy, IMHO, global warming is indeed happening. But it is being caused by the sun and there is little we mere mortals can do about it."

If I remember by pre-PC history correctly, the Medieval Warm Period was quite preferable to the Little Ice Age which followed.

[Hatteras]

Unbelievable... We are so rotten that our greenhouse gas destruction of mother earth is leading to the destruction of Mars! You know what this means?

Of Course! George Bush could destroy the entire GALAXY!!! HE MUST BE STOPPED!!!

[jonrick46]

Quick! Let's put out mirrors!

[ChessExpert]

My understanding is that by our best yet uncertain measures the following two claims are true: a) the earth is slightly warmer now than one hundred years ago, b) the earth is cooler now than 1000 years ago. So is that warming or cooling?

[agere_contra]

The controversy is about man-made, or anthropogenic GW. There is no doubt about the slow current warming: just as there is no doubt about the Mediaeval warm period. Both were/are caused by the Milankovitch cycle and solar variability.

[RockinRight]

Bad link - can't see the pic.

[edcoil]

"greenhouse gases into the atmosphere"

According to NASA's head climatologist, the greenhouse gases actually "keep the earth cooler."

Without the greenhouse gases, the temp on the plant would average 145 degree F.

[r9etb]

I'm angry because the weather has been hijacked as a political platform by Democrats. The freakin' WEATHER.

"Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it."
-- Oscar Wilde

[kalee]

bttt

[taxed2death]

That's my point...it's about as plausible as cow farts and tail pipe emissions. Given a choice, I'd sooner believe it was "the wave"....LOL
'

[MrB]

The "controversy" is not whether global warming is happening,

but whether it is human caused, and therefore just one more reason for "liberals" (LEFTISTS/COMMUNISTS) to curb more of our freedoms while, as in Algore's case, they do NOT curb their use of resources.

[Doohickey]

Mars, too, appears to be enjoying more mild and balmy temperatures.

Probably from buring European spacecraft.

[gridlock]

Ban SUV's on Mars.

You'll have to pry the keys from my cold dead slimy green hands, buddy!

[L98Fiero]

"If I remember by pre-PC history correctly, the Medieval Warm Period was quite preferable to the Little Ice Age which followed."

Of course, there are people who believe that the Little Ice age was caused by man, or more specifically, the Plague. I kid you not.

[DBrow]

The article says Mars has no moon- that should be "no large moon", unless they were trying to avoid Fear and Panic.

[kaboom]

Ban SUV's on Mars.

You had to bring it up. Note the correlation between the Mars Rover's arrival on Mars, and the subsequent warming of that planet. It just shows what damage a single SUV can do.

[Reaganesque]

This comment from one MMGW (Man-Made GW) scientist:

"His views are completely at odds with the mainstream scientific opinion," said Colin Wilson, a planetary physicist at England's Oxford University.

So were Galileo's views and Ptolomy's and the Wright Brothers' and the views of just about any great scientist of note in history really. If history has shown us anything, it is that the orthodoxy can be wrong and frequently is, particularly in science.

[vigilante2]

no doubt Mars was once a Republican planet inhabited by conservatives driving SUV's

[epluribus_2]

Will we get a Carbon-Tax refund if MMGW turns out to be BS?

[rock58seg]

The only scoffing I have heard from Mr. Limbaugh, is that global warming is Man-Made and over hyped.

[RockinRight]

LOL...

[aruanan]

Earth is currently experiencing rapid warming, which the vast majority of climate scientists says is due to humans pumping huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. (Get an overview: "Global Warming Fast Facts".)

Rapid? Maybe since the Mini Ice Age several hundred years ago. But it's only been a portion of 1C during the first part of the 20th century and general cooling since then.

[bmwcyle]

I still see it.

[rock58seg]

Bingo!

[driftdiver]

"And note that the theory that GW ISN'T happening is controversial."

Global warming is a fact.

We are currently in a critical transition phase. Within the next 90 days we can expect the entire northern hemisphere to experience a significant increase in the average daily temperature. This will result in substantial melting of the frozen ground cover and perhaps flooding of low lying areas.

Scientists are currently seeking federal grants to fund research necessary to explain the causes and help to limit the impact. They warn that new taxes are almost surely required to fund the necessary retraining of citiznes to correct their behavior and attitudes.

[arthurus]

This from National Geographic??? The wheels must be coming off the bandwagon if NG is jumping off.

[bcsco]

The counter by such noted scientists as Mr. Limbaugh is to say, "Not Our Fault, therefore No Global Warming."

I listened to an interview Limbaugh conducted yesterday with a noted former NASA scientist/meteorologist. The scientist essentially accepted that GW is a phenomenon, yet there is no hard scientific data to conclude the warming is primarily caused by man. Mr. Limbaugh had no problem accepting that.

Therefore, stating that Rush Limbaugh is spewing 'no Global Warming' propaganda is inaccurate (at least as of now).

Yes, many in the past who have been skeptical of the GW phenomenon, as presented by the likes of Al Gore, have countered with the idea that GW doesn't exist. I believe, however, that as more information from responsible scientists, climatologists and meteorologists comes out, we've come to realize that while there is something that is causing the earth to warm at this time, little has to do with man's affect on our environment.

Please give those of us not blessed to be among the scientific community credit for due diligence in developing an understanding of a complex issue, and advancing our position as the situation changes.

[stuartcr]

Maybe Mars used to be just like earth...

[secretagent]

According to the NG article, mainstream climate experts say the Mars warm up comes from wobbles in Mars' orbit, not an increase in solar heating;

{snip... 'The conventional theory is that climate changes on Mars can be explained primarily by small alterations in the planet's orbit and tilt, not by changes in the sun.

"Wobbles in the orbit of Mars are the main cause of its climate change in the current era," Oxford's Wilson explained. (Related: "Don't Blame Sun for Global Warming, Study Says" [September 13, 2006].' snip...}

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070228-mars-warming.html

[DBrow]

The UN has de-emphasized the Warm Period and the Little Ice age (and the Maunder Solar Minimum).

Christopher Monckton discusses it here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/05/nosplit/nwarm05.xml

Look at his backup files. The UN removed these blips in our recent climate history.

Otherwise, fourth graders may ask, what happened to the polar bears in the Medieval Warm Period? And the UN and Algor must remain silent.

[TomGuy]

Mars is Warming: NASA

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=17977

Mars Emerging from Ice Age: NASA

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_ice-age_031208.html

Pluto Sees Global Warming: MIT

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2002/pluto.html

Global Warming on Jupiter: Hubble Telescope

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060504_red_jr.html

Neptune’s Moon Getting Warmer: Hubble Telescope

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/120259.stm

[Matchett-PI]

Here's the email I sent to Rush 5 minutes before his program started: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793347/posts?page=43#43

[Old Professer]

That's because it's "settled science."

[GourmetDan]

"The UN has de-emphasized the Warm Period and the Little Ice age (and the Maunder Solar Minimum)."

Yes, I know.

That's why I referred to it as pre-PC history. :-)

[r9etb]

Yours is an excellent exercise in missing the point.

[Old Professer]

What is the point?

[DBrow]

Likewise on Earth, Milankovitch Cycles are responsible for the series of ice ages we've had for the last 3 million years or so. In other words, global warming and cooling caused by our orbital fluctuations.

Most climatologists see solar output variations as being minor compared to orbital forcing.

Personally, I think the sun may be more variable now than before and may play a bigger role, but I'm not a climatologist (I do read many papers on solar output though).