The Weather Notebook: Brainstorm: Is There Global Warming?

Brainstorm: Is There Global Warming?
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Dave Thurlow, Host

Today on the show, we're going to ask you to participate in a poll to find out a little bit about what you believe about global warming. Now, it's a very complex issue, but, most of us have to rely on someone else, to help us come to some kind of belief about what's going on. We all - let's say - consume scientific information, but are we good consumers, are you a good consumer? Hi I'm Dave Thurlow for The Weather Notebook.

Is the earth getting warmer due to the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities? There are some scientists who say - yes! And, there are some scientists who say no.

So, who do you believe? How do you get to your understanding about global warming? So, we're taking a poll. And we invite comments too, but with some of the following suggestions for the scientific consumer in mind:

1. Don't use short-term evidence to sway your thinking. If it was hot last week, it doesn't mean the earth is warming up. That's like a gnat on an elephant. It doesn't have much affect on the big picture.
2. Look for consensus of opinion, the more who believe one side of an issue the more likely it is to be accurate.
3. Look for convergence of opinion over time. Are more and more people coming to the same conclusion?

So, ask people you trust, anyone. Discuss it, think about it. With confidence in your belief, your resulting action will serve you better. Is global warming happening? Let us know by contacting us at weathernotebook.org. Or at 1-888 RAIN-001. Our show is a production of the Mount Washington Observatory with major support provided by the National Science Foundation.