Survey: (About 82 percent of) Scientists Agree Human-Induced Global Warming is Real

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://tigger.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/newsbureau/cgi-bin/index.cgi?from=Releases&to=Release&id=2389&start=1224772471&end=1232548471&topic=0&dept=0

UIC NEWS BUREAU

Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago IL 60607-7113, [phone]
www.news.uic.edu

January 19, 2009
Contact: Paul Francuch, [phone], [e-mail]

Survey: Scientists Agree Human-Induced Global Warming is Real

…

A group of 3,146 earth scientists surveyed around the world overwhelmingly agree that in the past 200-plus years, mean global temperatures have been rising, and that human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures.

…

Two questions were key: have mean global temperatures risen compared to pre-1800s levels, and has human activity been a significant factor in changing mean global temperatures.

About 90 percent of the scientists agreed with the first question and 82 percent the second.

In analyzing responses by sub-groups, Doran found that climatologists who are active in research showed the strongest consensus on the causes of global warming, with 97 percent agreeing humans play a role. Petroleum geologists and meteorologists were among the biggest doubters, with only 47 and 64 percent respectively believing in human involvement. Doran compared their responses to a recent poll showing only 58 percent of the public thinks human activity contributes to global warming.

…

[bbernardini]

1. A quick question about this...

Is there a good list of the breakdown of the different fields of the "earth scientists"? Since the one the global warming deniers like to site is mostly a survey of people who are in fields that have nothing to do with the earth, I'd like to make sure this one is more "bulletproof".

[elocs]

2. I reckon in 50 years from now that those who believe and have believed

that global warming was not human-induced will be looked upon like those who thought that the earth was flat. The difference is that those in this century have clear evidence compared to those of centuries ago who believed the earth was flat.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. Well, actually, there was pretty clear evidence the Earth was spherical centuries ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spherical_Earth

Eratosthenes did a pretty good job of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eratosthenes#Eratosthenes.27_measurement_of_the_Earth.27s_circumference">calculating its circumpherance around 240 BC.

[elocs]

6. But your average serf on the turf didn't know that and most didn't have internet access then. n/t

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. Well, despite what you learned in school, the "Spherical Earth" was pretty well accepted

Especially by sailors. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myth_of_the_Flat_Earth">Myth of the Flat Earth.

Basically it's just another myth to say that earlier civilizations were stupid. (File it away with other similar myths like, "The ancient Egyptians couldn't have built the pyramids." "The ancient Celts couldn't have built Stone Henge." etc.)

[elocs]

8. Serfs aren't sailors, though.

I wonder what the Catholic Church's position was on that and that the earth was not the center of the universe? That Catholic Church did like to throw its weight around back then.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. More myths

Contrary to popular notion, there really wasn't a tremendous conflict between Science and Religion. (See "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_thesis">Conflict thesis.")

This is a similar mythology, used to impugn religion.

[elocs]

10. Well, so much for trying a little humor. It is lost on some.

Fortunately, I won't be reading anymore of your posts. Jeeez.

[OKIsItJustMe]

12. Sorry, I just get tired of those old myths

You know, "Columbus was the only guy who thought the world was round. His crew all thought they'd fall off the edge of the flat Earth."

[kristopher]

11. The only real conflict

is between believers in Biblical inerrancy and reality.

[kristopher]

3. PDF of survey article available at author's website

http://tigger.uic.edu/~pdoran/home.htm

Click the red "Article in (PDF)>>" link to download 2 page paper.

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. Good catch! (Thanks!)

Didn't have time to search it down myself.