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“The surprising recent finding that living plants produce methane does not throw doubt on the cause of global warming. Human activities–not plants–are the source of the surge in this and other greenhouse gases” [1]

Does this show a bias on his part? Quite clearly.

[1] http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=1&articleID=1367E15B-E7F2-99DF-346DBF33877B8596

Interesting article. I think some climate modelers already knew this, because one of the paradoxes that emerged from certain models was the odd effect have having more trees at high northern latitudes.

The research was done right here in California at Lawrence Livermore Labs. You can read a summary here.

http://www.llnl.gov/pao/news/news_releases/2005/NR-05-12-04.html

Conventional wisdom says that a forest should make a cooler environment, and sequester carbon. But the model said was that more tree at that latitude made for a warmer atmosphere.

Of course that doesn’t get talked about much in MSM.

Their discovery is surprising inasmuch as it contradicts centuries of scientific consensus that methane could only be produced through anaerobic processes. What they found was that methane is in fact produced quite abundantly by terrestrial flora.

Methane, it should be noted, produces four times the greenhouse event per ton that carbon dioxide does. But combustion of hydrocarbons does not produce methane, and so global warming activists have tended to ignore that particular inconvenient truth in their crusade against free enterprise.

If climate change is an artifact of greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere, then clearly the most effective strategy for reversing this trend would be to mow the rain forests to grade level, saturate the soil with Round-Up, and cover the land with a strong layer of asphalt….

My argument comes down to this: Theory is something that “might” be possible under certain circumstances.

Proof… as in proof via a scientfic formula produces an expected result when it’s repeated, i.e., double blind studies.

Nowhere in science has man been “proven” to be the main cause for global warming, there is simply no evidence of this! It’s only a theory shared by a modest number of scientists, yet with the left’s political bias we see theory touted as fact…its like their mantra.

Science is my religion. No, not scientology, SCIENCE. Let’s make that clear…lol. I’ve been a student of the physical sciences since the 9th grade. Even at my low level of understanding, I am only too aware that no theory is valid without peer review and proof. And the fact that there are two passionate camps on both sides of the issue is clear and compelling evidence that the science is not settled.

I don’t pretend to know the cause of the obvious change to our climate. And until the scientific process is concluded (if ever), drawing any hard conclusions is just silly, IMHO.

Tom, Exactly right!

Anthony said: I find it telling that those whom say “the debate is over” related to “man made global warming” just shut out anything or anybody that might have another view.

Clearly scientific PROOF means nothing…nor does doing what works.

…in the editorial, I’m said to be a victim of my own “cultural bias”.

I wonder if they ever consider their own “cultural (and political) bias.

If there wasn’t so much money being thrown at global warming research, the “consensus” would be different. Even those that practice the scientific method know not to bite the hand that feeds them.

When I tell people that support the theory that I am not convinced, it always amazes me that they take that to mean that either I don’t believe global warming is happening or I don’t believe that man is responsible. It doesn’t mean that at all. It means it is a theory and it remains a theory.

Theories are proposed as a basis for investigation and discussion. They should promote the exchange of ideas and promote investigations to prove or disprove them. Were so many people not listening when they were taught the “Scientific Method”. When people accept a theory as fact without conclusive evidence and attempt to silence opposing opinions it is not science any more. It’s politics!