Originally posted by frogstomp
...Wasn't it the the measured temperture being far greater than had been calculated that gave rise to the global warming hypothesis?
Also, the logic of greenhouse gases preventing sufficient nighttime radiational cooling is tough to argue against.
The real "surprise" will be what the gradual and slight rise in temperature does to the average temperature in the ocean, changing air mass temperature world-wide, melting polar ice, lowering the temperature of the Gulf Stream.
When that happens, it will be as if some playful deity has flicked the "On" switch to "Off" for northern Europe and the North American eastern seaboard, including Mr.Baiter in NY. Maybe he'll develop a better understanding of the consequences of re-electing Big Oil's Texas cheerleader as President of the U.S.
Perhaps the U.S. will be obliged by necessary circumstance, then, to get out of Iraq - or whatever other godforsaken spot the Oil Companies will have annexed by then ~ maybe even Siberia? - and address the real infrastructural problems they have at home.
You know - guns, violence, poverty, racism, greedy right-wing fundamentalist politicians....