I'm still rolling on the floor Collin ... "Europe's little ice age" - classic.

The Maunder Minimum (which I am well aware of, thanks) is not Europe.

Research and read all you want Collin. That in and of itself doesn't mean you understand, as you have so poignantly demonstrated.

Q&A Why are you rolling on the floor? Collin reported one of the well known hypotheses about the cause of the Little Ice Age! Anyone in climate science would be aware of that. Your comment about the Maunder Minimum "not being Europe"? What is that all about, its not a bear or a fridge either.

In relation to the article itself, I commend the author for a rational approach to the topic. He has found one part of history which is yet to be rewritten by the new Left.

We are in the process of proving just that, by using the planet, it may take many decades and by that time we may have uncontroversial proof that the emission of CO2 and methane is on its path to heating our planet to an unliveable state or not. I suggest we should sacrifice certainty for the cautionary principle. But we definitely know that the concentration of CO2 preindustrial revolution was 278ppm and today its 380ppm and we also know where the carbon came from. Unfortunately the increase in the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has a hysteresis effect on the temperature due to the thermal inertia of water.
There's a terrific amount of methane as hydrate in the seas that could be realist into the air with catastrophic consequences if the sea warms up. The effect of an insulating layer of gas will mean less difference of temperature between equator and poles resulting in reduced ocean currents, this could have devastating results.
The other aspect of concern is the acidification of the oceans and the effect it has on life in the ocean.
The changes are more rapid than the past and it's a new situation as I had explain before any new condition is a cause for some caution at least I would refer you to James Hansen

Atman

You exclaim << Collin reported one of the well known hypotheses about the cause of the Little Ice Age! >>

No, he did not.

He said; "A prolonged period of minimal solar activity in the 17th century caused Europe's little ice age"

I am quite aware what he meant, Atman ... as "anyone in climate science would".

The fact remains, if Collin wants to give the impression he knows what he is talking about, he should not have said such a stupid statement ... "Europe's little ice age". I presume even you know that "ice ages" don't occur, um ... regionally.

Collin didn't stop there though, Atman. He proceeded to give Dr Geoff Davies (geophysicist at the Australian National University) a short course culminating in asking if that is enough "physics" for Geoff (yes, I'm still bemused, Atman).

Wait, there's more. Collin asks me who I am , whether I'm pretending to be a climate scientist, and implied even if I was it wouldn't matter anyway. No, Atman, I'm not pretending - but it doesn't matter anyway.

The following link to an interview between Chris Mooney and Leigh Sales last night sort of puts things into perspective.

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200909/r437848_2107485.asx

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2689429.htm

The former a video, the latter a transcript.

Q&A - when he got to "I'm a fan of Al Gore", I stopped watching.

I guess you hear what you want to hear don't you - and he's one of the "science is settled" types, no debate and can't understand why there is one going on.

I love the talk of a denier "problem". Is he selling a book? Gosh better talk it up then, is it pro AGW? Oh well, I guess it's only people like Plimer whose motives are questioned when they write a book.

So it's the same voice is it that are the lone voices against everything .. what utter rubbish.

Still it wouldn't be a week if there wasn't someone or something to sneer at eh Q&A.

I repeat that there may be factors unknown and that CO2 only seems ot fit because there is a absence of any KNOWN other culprit, yet CO2 doesn't seem to behave and the world is not warming as the models predict. So is CO2 to blame, are the models or is something else causing the warming/ I don't know, you sure don't, so we stay on this rollicking ride observing what happens.

Of course dissent is labeled as ignorance, wingba .. but of course you remember your litigy of insults so no need to repeat them, unless there are some new ones?

You stopped watching rpg and thereby give credence to Chris Mooney's claims.

A real sceptic critically analyses ALL arguments.

You on the other hand refuse to take off your political blinkers, typical.