TalkClimateChange

But which way?

I’ve been intrigued by the number of different interpretations following Nature’s recent publication predicting a temporary lull in global warming on which Daryl recently commentated.

Right now I am in the midst of putting together a post contrasting the different reactions, and - crucially - the impact this has on the world’s decision making as politics, self interest, pre-determined belief and ideology spectacularly collide.

But since mining the vast amount of material out there is taking longer than expected (as usual) I thought I would share something in the meantime that I found on Brett Anderson’s excellent Global Warming Blog.

Brett has created a listing of predictions made by climate researchers over time showing just how quickly and significantly opinions change - I reproduce some examples of Brett’s list here:

5/1/08….Next decade may see no warming due to changes in ocean currents. link

4/28/08….We could reach the global warming tipping point within 2-3 decades. link

11/15/07…..Climate change accelerating, scientists warn. link.

01/03/08…..2008 will be one of the top ten warmest globally since 1850. link.

12/21/07….More than 400 scientists cast doubt that man-made global warming threatens the planet. link.

04/23/08…….Prepare for an ice age. link.

02/12/08……Sea level rise could be twice as high as current projections. link.

03/27/08…….Expect more warming of extreme temperatures. link.

07/25/07….Huge sea level rises are coming unless we act now! link.

08/10/07…….Global warming will speed up after 2009. link.

04/30/08……..Global warming will stop until at least 2015. link.

09/16/06…..Scientists predict solar downturn, global cooling. link.

11/06/97……Brightening sun is warming earth. link.

04/14/08….Warming will mean fewer, but more powerful tropical cyclones. link.

01/23/08….Warming oceans reducing the # of land-falling U.S. Hurricanes. link.

08/26/06….Russian scientist predicts global cooling in coming decades then a warmer interval. link.

01/31/07….Sydney, Australia will see a 9 degree celsius increase in temp. by 2070. link.

08/13/07…..Expect CONTINUED warming over the next 10 years. (UK Met office). link.

04/27/08….Ten-year forecasts produced by the Met Office Hadley Centre CAPTURE this LEVELLING of global temperatures in the middle of this decade. From the article "Is global warming all over?" link.

Honestly, who knows what to believe?