Can someone PLEASE debunk the RW "decade of cooling temps" claim?

[Hugabear]

For months now, Reich-wingers have been claiming that the earth has been getting steadily cooler since 1997, and before that it had only risen 1-degree Celsius.

The effects of global warming and climate change are irrefutable. We see glaciers melting, the Arctic "Northwest Passage" becoming ice-free for the first time in recorded history, etc. Yet we still have a bunch of ass-clowns running around using bullshit claims, taking measurements out of context I'm sure, just so that their Big Oil buddies can keep raking in billions of dollars in profits while raping the planet, and trying to convince governments around the world to forestall taking any action on climate change.

I've said it before, and I'll stand by it. These assholes are environmental terrorists, their claims and actions, if heeded, could result in the deaths of BILLIONS of people within the next century.

[jpak]

1. It's horseshit

http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/temp/jonescru/jones.html

[kurt_cagle]

7. Climate Variations

There are localized climate variations that take place on the order of decades or even centuries. The Maunder minimum in the eighteenth century was a prime example of that, and there are strong indications that these impacts are responsible for certain cyclic variations. We may very well be moving into a period of cooling again. The problem here is that while this may ameliorate the immediate effects of "global warming" somewhat, it will likely not halt it. Moreover, there are additional local factors - the North Atlantic's salinity has been dropping rapidly, which has had the effect of slowing the Gulf Stream, which has in effect meant that cold arctic air will be coming into the Atlantic-facing region of the world more often - in effect, making this region cooler even as the rest of the world warms up. The irony is that the arctic air will be WARMER than it had been, but still colder than what might be expected otherwise.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Two words are all you need

"Prove It"

Whoever makes the assertion has the burden of proof -- especially if it's being done for dramatic or ego-enhancing effect.

--p!

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Those guys do not let the facts interfere with their beliefs...

[BeFree]

4. Well

40 years ago it was said that we were heading into a cooling period. Given that was true, and temps have been hitting record highs, then what we have already done is turned back the cooling period. Which would explain why we still have record cold weather in some places.

But the scientists have all said that the climate would begin bouncing between extremes, and we have evidence of just that.

[Sinti]

5. Global Climate Change seems to be a more effective phrase for them

to wrap their heads around. Europe is largely dependent on the Gulf Stream for its moderate climate, as the Gulf Stream slows European winters get colder. This, and other bits of anecdotal evidence, seem to make climate change deniers feel emboldened, in spite of all the "the house is on fire" kind of facts out there and in your face. It snowed in Michigan today, therefore there is no "Global Warming" - I wonder if that kind of stupid is painful.

A couple of links from very stuffy sources might help out.

From NOAA's Global Warming FAQ - a nice graph - graphs are good and blisteringly obvious. The warming is not uniform, but it's absolutely happening.

Ocean Temperatures And Sea Level Increases 50 Percent Higher Than Previously Estimated - The ocean warming and thermal expansion rates are more than 50 percent larger than previous estimates for the upper 300 meters of oceans.

You might want to bring up ocean acidification, also. This is directly correlated to the use of fossil fuels.

Keep in mind, however, some folks don't want to let go of what they believe. Facts don't really matter to them so aggressive schooling won't work. You do better with the passive, "obviously you know quite a lot about this, so explain this to me" approach. Good luck.

[FormerDittoHead]

6. No source, but the stats they cite for this are for North America only.

They'll say, "but temperatures are cooler" while leaving out the "in our country, but not in the rest of the world, and I'm a fucking idiot or a fucking liar who's trying to convince you something so I can make a short term profit on my oil stocks while destroying the whole world, but I'll have more money than you and live in some fucking bubble house so I won't care".