In the last decade, we've seen extreme hurricanes, droughts, blizzards and more. Are these weather events random or are they the result of fundamental changes to Earth's climate? Scientific American editor Mark Fischetti explains.

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3 Comments

1. 1. geojellyroll 04:58 PM 9/12/12

   Extreme weather means what? Drought. hurricane, tornadoes? 99.9% of the world doesn't have any extreme weather going on at any given time.
   
   If there are few than the average number of hurricanes in 2012 than 1912 does that mean the world was cooler? No...it means more or less nothing in itself.
   
   There are too many variables that go into 'extreme' weather to isolate a nebulous concept such as 'climate change'.

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2. 2. Crasher 07:01 PM 9/12/12

   Granted that extreme weather conditions over a short period...like a decade, really means little. However as the saying goes 'where theres smoke theres fire'. It is obvious to any thinking person that the combined pressure of 7 billion people and massive industrialisation IS causing RAPID and profound changes to the planets weather and climate systems.

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3. 3. eco-steve 06:30 PM 9/17/12

   Weather and climate have always changed. Current CO2 levels have rarely increased as fast as now. CO2 levels vary in parallel with temperature. Man is pumping CO2 into the air recklessly and is increasing world temperature measurably.
   If future generations were represented in current elections, deniers would find few allies. Democracy neither represents one billion starving people nor the best interests of our descendants.
   

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