[Dan Cooper]

Michaels pointed out that the surface records show average global temperatures increasing at a steady rate of +0.17 degrees centigrade per decade since 1977. He also hastened to put the kibosh on recent assertions that "global warming stopped in 1998." While global average temperatures have been essentially flat since 1998, Michaels argued that natural variations in the climate mask any increases due to greenhouse gases. In particular,cooler waters in the Pacific ("La Nina") and lower solar activity have conspired to drop average global temperatures. When these trends reverse, average global temperatures will rapidly rise to reveal the established long term man-made warming trend of +0.17 degrees centigrade per decade. Michaels warned against succumbing to the temptation to cite current flattened global temperatures as evidence against man-made global warming.

If the "steady rate" of temperature increase can be masked by "natural variations in the climate" then aren't they saying that the anthropogenic contribution to climate change doesn't really amount to much. That it is just noise in the larger system of climate changes that we don't understand very well and is pretty much out of our control. He is saying that the climate conspired against their theory and that when trends reverse manmade global warming will be back. When will the trends reverse? Next week? Next year? In 100 thousand years on the other side of a glacial period? And even if it does reverse, when will nature next conspire to mask manmade global warming? This is a stunning admission of the vacancy of the manmade global warming theory.

[eddie willers]

I see we read that sentence the same way.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Your questions point out their flaws.

Equally - note that even this “skeptic” - who presents many valid points in his summary - falls prey to the AGW’s own tactics:

Global Warming is clearly defined and is a valid observation - FOR ONLY TWO DECADES (1977 - 1998).

From 1998 -2008 (ONE DECADE) temperatures have been stagnant - he may argue the point to avoid the “global warming denier” label - but nobody can show ANY temperatures of ANY climate measurement increasing ANYWHERE after 1998 due ANY cause (man-made or solar or orbit or anything else..

Prior to 1977, temperatures varied globally regularly - and no animals went extinct and no plants went extinct.

Therefore, it is still ONLY valid to claim global warming is "real" and that amounted to 1/2 of one degree in 30 years - with the last ten years showing no change at all.