global warming consensus

Originally posted by zeeblebot
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=global+warming+consensus

It's warmer, sure. As a scientist, I have 2 issues with global warming:

1) Are our climate models good enough to say that this is abnormal warming? I develop models, too, and I know how tricky it can be. What you leave out or don't know about is as important as what you put in.

2) Whether natural or man-made, we have no idea how the planetary ecosystem will react to the current warming trend. Logically, a feedback mechanism will kick in. We know that because no previous warming trend has gone on forever. How can we know that we have already overwhelmed that feedback mechanism when we don't even know what it is or how it operates?

On the other hand, one of the very best arguments for reducing emissions is in the very fact that we DON'T know what will happen. Why play Russian roulette if there is an alternative? Life has changed the earth before -- our oxygen atmosphere is likely a waste product of photosynthesis.

So I think the article is correct -- on one level -- which is that scientists are not unanimous on the harm that will result due to the latest warming trend. On the other hand, most scientists would advise caution in making a wholesale change in the atmospheric composition.