Originally Posted by
dagger dog
In my home area this winter is the first "normal" winter we have had in the last 30 years. Prior to that all the winters have been a lot warmer. The norm was October brought the first snow, January and February were the coldest with 2-3 weeks being below freezing for each month. From 1978 through 2012, we have hade sporadic cold snaps, but not the winters that were a norm from 1957-1977.
Global warming is a FACT, yes you may laugh when a warm snap happens, but look back (if you are old enough) and compare the differences. The effect is geographically diverse and is wide spread, different to all areas, as weather. But climate changes are long term, and the current trend of global warming is causing these violent fluctuations in the weather patterns.
4 degree changes in total global warmth changes the ocean currents (East coast Gulf Stream, West Coast Humbolt), the fresh water polar ice caps are fresh water, as the green house effect from the input of man made emissions combine with the natural CO2 melts the fresh water caps, the main ocean currents that are driven by the saline to fresh water incline (salt water is heavier and drops to the bottom and the fresh water moves in to the top) are halted by the influx of the fresh diluting the heavier salt water and stops those warm currents that flow from the equator, (making changes in total climate), and yes it may be 70* above in some areas, but the over all effect is we are on the swing to another climate change, and their ain't no body alive that can say they were not.
I'm not saying we are the cause , it may be a natural swing, but personally I believe we have contributed to the changes, and I don't think anyone can honestly say we haven't (tree huggers or not).
So if your young enough hang around for another 20 years and see what it cost to stay warm or cool. We are in for a big change.