Fossil fuels and global warming – the letter
Here is a complete letter from Bernard Miller, retired professor of chemistry at University of Massachusetts regarding the use of fossil fuels and global warming.
A recent letter stated that the global climate has varied markedly over the past few billion years, and considers that a reason to reject the idea that the current warming is due to human actions.
Yes, in the past continental drift, relocation of the Earth’s magnetic poles, massive meteor strikes, changes in ocean currents, intense volcanic eruptions and changes in solar radiation might all conceivably have affected climate over the Earth’s history. But continents, magnetic poles and ocean currents have not significantly changed location over the past 150 years, and we have not experienced massive meteor strikes or exceptional series of volcanic eruptions.
What has happened is that the burning of fossil fuels has markedly increased the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere. An infrared (heat) radiation meter in any physics or chemistry laboratory can quickly demonstrate how strongly carbon dioxide soaks up the sun’s heat radiation.
Let’s face facts. The human use of fossil fuels is melting the polar ice caps, raising ocean levels and killing off coral reefs. The use of fossil fuels is very likely increasing storm severity and will probably lead to massive changes in our local plant and insect populations.
Related posts:
- How fossil fuels are affecting global warming
- Volcanoes and global warming
- Fossil fuels depletion in future
- Global warming – five facts
- The economics of global warming
