Some scientists cite 2000 as the approximate year when the carbon dioxide "greenhouse" effect will be recognized as having raised global temperatures significantly. Some environmentalists predict that CO2 pollution will create a canopy over the earth that will prevent heat from radiating into space. Most experts doubt that this effect will occur. Instead, many scientists are worried about a widespread, gradual cooling trend that could take hold by this year. If earth is indeed cooling, this climate change could signal the eventual onset of a new Ice Age that would slowly freeze much of the populated world by the year 12,000.
See also:
The Coming Ice Age (1982)
Solar Energy for Tomorrow's World (1980)
Closer Than We Think! Polar City (1959)
Communities May Be Weatherized (Edwardsville Intelligencer, 1952)
Global Warming deniers like to trot this bit of history out from time to time, to the tune of "See! In the 70s, scientists thought there would be global *cooling*! This proves they're just making crap up and don't know anything."
ReplyDeleteOf course, if the age-old scientific models say the earth should be getting cooler and then it *doesn't*, I wonder what that suggests about man's influence on the temperature...
Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteGlobal warming? I thought the contemporary nomenclature today is climate change?
ReplyDeleteThen again, the earths climate has changed and continues to change, and will always continue to change. It is human pride that deludes us into believing that we have such a tremendous influence on this earth; that only humanity is the only determinant for climate change. Which just isn't true. How is it even in our power to stop climate change?