Since the comments have gone that way, my views:

1) Science by consensus is not science or scientific; it’s political.

2) I’ve seen a lot of things that say warming is caused by CO2. I’ve also seen indicators that show CO2 concentrations follow temperature.

3) We are in the beginning of a La Nina. Also, the other day, I saw an article that says we are also in the beginning of the cool phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, which, if true, should last 20 to 30 years.

4)Arctic ice has recovered quite nicely over the last couple of years. The “proof” of Antarctic Warming was a single study done in part by Michael Mann, originator of the now discredited “hockey stick” global temperature chart. I’ve read several pieces questioning the study’s techniques.

I must admit that I don’t know much about ocean acidification. One of the causes of CO2 in the atmosphere is gases coming out of solution as waters warm.

5) No significant changes in the local plant and animal cycles that I’ve seen, though it varies from year to year. On the other hand, locally, lilacs only bloom after a colder than usual winter, and they’ve bloomed more in the several years. I expect to see a lot of lilac blooms this year.

6) I’ve not looked much at permafrost loss or the release of methane.

I don’t think it would be the first time that grapes were grown in Scotland. From what I understand, that occurred during the Medieval Warm Period which spanned a period of time from 900 – 1300 AD. Incidentally, some say that CO2 lags temperature by about 800 years. Can’t say as I believe that, but if it were true, our CO2 rise would be from about 1209 AD, or late in the Medieval Warm Period.

Thanks for the informative post. Now I know why I’m wearing all my winter clothes…at one time. It’s freezing in Florida. I live in North Florida and we’ve always had a chilly winter, but this one is really COLD. In my town, we reached a record low of 17 degrees (F) last night and will again tonight.

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Second there is plenty of evidence to link atmospheric CO2 levels with climate. Pump up the CO2 and you are pumping up the greenhouse effect. This is pretty basic science.

Third as well as the sun cycles there are also El Nino and La Nina cycles which have a significant effect on the Americas and on north Atlantic weather patterns. We are in the middle of one of these at the moment if I recall correctly and my recollection is that it’s predicted effects were some cooling and greater precipitation.

Fourth – there is a massive difference between short term weather cycles of 1 to 5 years and longer term climate changes.
Please do a GGoogle search on 1) loss of arctic ice cover 2) Antarctic warming ( recently proved 3) Ocean acidification and subsequent coral loss – with implications for marine life.

The latter is a direct result of more CO2 in the atmosphere which changes the Ph of the oceans.

fifth – Please observe your local plant/ animal seasonal cycles – have these changed?
They have gone crazy in the UK with eg spring plants flowering very very early. I could go on. Everything points to climate change.

Sixth – check out permafrost loss and methane release.

In Scotland we should be OK. If it gets a bit warmer we might grow grapes. Why should we worry eh?

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Jean – You are certainly welcome. I agree that a lot of scientists are taking it seriously.

Vered – Yes, we really do not know as much as we think we do.

Tess – Yes, at times, it is overwhelming…, but I refuse to surrender. I don’t want to accept the current conventional thinking when my gut, knowledge and experience tells be it just doesn’t make sense.

Leslie – We, too, are looking at our trees in a different light. We have quite a lot of large pines and we lost 7 a little over a year ago in a wind storm.

Hannah – Thanks for the links. I know the arguments.

The IPCC is not a scientific organization. It is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change whose role “is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. Review by experts and governments is an essential part of the IPCC process. The Panel does not conduct new research, monitor climate-related data or recommend policies. It is open to all member countries of WMO and UNEP.” IPCC pamphlet

The IPCC, then, goes into the topic of climate change by pre-assuming that it is caused by humans. Science tainted by presumptions can be poor science. Policy based on scientific presumptions can be disastrous.

What if they are wrong?

XUP – WestHighlander has a lot of personal experience and insight in this issue. I agree that we have been doing bad things to many parts of the world, but the effects are generally local.

Jannie – It is gorgeous, isn’t it?

Eric – Thanks for the birthday wish and thanks on the comment about the post. It was intended to induce thought.

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What about optimism! Happiness in action!

And that is one gorgeous ball of burning gas.

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I believe some if not all of this is in Divine Order. Sometimes to think of this topic is too overwhelming. So I surrender…

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It amazes me how little we really know.

Jean Browman–Cheerful Monk´s last blog post..Taking Delight in Little Things

Jean Browman–Cheerful Monk´s last blog post..Taking Delight in Little Things