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Heat Wave — a Sign of Global Warming or Just a Hot Spell?

Global warming has become a hot button political topic in recent years with believers and non-believers equally as convinced of their viewpoints. Will this heat wave change any perceptions?

The subject of global warming often gives rise to heated debate, especially in political circles. Scientists have come out in support of both sides of the issue and each side latches on to whatever theory supports their particular stance.

In the extreme cold temperatures of the winter of 2010, there were many jokes about the absence of global warming and supporters were forced to find theories to defend its existence. Die-hard global warming theorists said that dramatic temperature swings were actually the result of global warming. However, those who dispute global warming have been pretty quiet these last few weeks. In light of all the record high temperatures set, it's a difficult one to argue right now.

What do you think? Does this heat wave prove the global warming theory once and for all, or is it just part of natural climate changes that vary from season to season and decade to decade?

Vanzetta Evans (Editor) July 9, 2012 at 04:17 pm
I'm starting to think Al Gore was right...
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) July 9, 2012 at 07:22 pm
Where are you Steve? I felt sure our resident weatherman would be able to give us a scientific starting point on this.
Susan July 9, 2012 at 08:46 pm
If your in the Smoky or Blue Ridge Mountains much you will notice how thin the trees have gotten. I can see rock outcroppings that were covered ten years ago. The limbs are dropping! So we have had climate change. Massive flooding in Russia, England, Etc.. Now the corn belts of the USA, Austalia, and Russia all hit. Water will be like gold soon!
Perry Parks (Editor) July 9, 2012 at 08:50 pm
It's important to note that while climate change is a political debate, it's not a scientific one. Nearly every scientist who closely studies climate issues agrees that the earth is heating rapidly and that humans are a significant contributor to this phenomenon:
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/06/04/1003187107.full.pdf+html At the same time, it's worth noting that, because scientists as a group are more cautious than they get credit for, usually they don't blame climate change for specific short-term weather events such as this heat wave or the big burst of major tornadoes we experienced several months ago. Most climate scientists interviewed in this AP story say this heat wave LOOKS LIKE what they have predicted, but isn't conclusively the result of global warming: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/heat-wave-2012-caused-by-global-warming-this-us-summer-is-what-global-warming-looks-like
Brian Crawford July 9, 2012 at 09:07 pm
There is certainly a difference between weather and climate but the science behind global warming is pretty overwhelming. The planet is warming. Man made carbon emissions have contributed to that warming.Those are facts. Are we near a tipping point? I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Fossil fuels are a finite resource, an inevitable dead end, but we're like a smoker who can't kick the habit. To paraphrase Paul Simon, we are living in an age of "miracles and wonder", clean renewable energy is within our grasp. We have the capacity to develop the science but no one has the political will to stand up to Big Oil. That could be the death of us all.
Neil Levine July 9, 2012 at 10:04 pm
The storms seem to be coming Fast and Furious. Emilia is forming in the Pacific and Ernesto is nect up in the Ewet.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) July 9, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Well they're fast and furious at my house right now. Power is out and cats are in hiding. Thank goodness for mobile Internet!
Ryan Smith (Editor) July 10, 2012 at 03:14 am
Perry,
You make a good point. Policy may be influenced by popular vote, and often should be. Science is not and should not be. A thing either is or isn't, regardless of how people feel about it.
Robert Edney January 10, 2013 at 06:31 pm
I believe that it's easy to pick on the auto industry for our ecological woes but think of this. Think of how much pure CO2 that the collective amount of just canned soda, beer, or any carbonated beverage emits over a year. Everything that utilizes CO2 as a propellant or the like. Last year, I researched that just the US consumed aprox 8 trillion cans of soda. That is pure CO2 being emited. Are we going to controll that. I believe the majority of Global Warming is caused by reflective heat from objects such as asphault road, concrete buildings, any surface that absorbes or reflects heat. Just think of how much heat that is generated by an automobile or any vehicle that has an internal combustion engine. The engine, exhaust piping, catalytic converter, just the surface area of the vehicle, the brakes, and friction of the tires. Collectivly, if you consider the heat generated by all the vehicles in just the US, no wonder why NY City has its own weather patern. Maybe this just global warming thing is just a product of mans progress or so we call it. No matter how much CO2 we remove, or regulate, we are enslave by other factors we have no control over. JUST MY OPINION !

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Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:16 am
David, it's still there we are just in the process of working out the bug on uploading photos toRead More articles that we authored (ugh!). I just didn't want to promote it and have people try and upload photos unsuccessfully. Depending on how long it takes to address this issue, I may keep June open through part of July - I hope not. If you have any photos you want to add, email them to me and I will upload them for you in the meantime.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:19 am
That is the strawberry fields. I have a picture of the strawberry fields between the welcome toRead More Loganville and welcome to Grayson signs that I will get up soon.
EMILY GOLDSTEIN June 18, 2013 at 09:49 pm
Rabies tag on dog leads to a disconnected owners number
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 06:11 pm
Yea, sorry David. We are still dealing with some "issues." It rejected Jason's blog, andRead More none of us, not even our top regional editor, is being given authority to release it. Poor Jason, I know he so hates being rejected! And we hate it happening to him. The people not being "bugged" by technical issues, however, are reporting that it is super easy to use.
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 08:10 am
I wonder. Will Patch restore the reply button and add a responded to your comment notification?
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 09:21 am
Please keep these comments coming. We are forwarding all these issues to our production team. TheRead More ones that are most pressing are more likely to be addressed first. Once we have the initial roll out completed and working well, the tweaking will begin.
Dave June 19, 2013 at 07:28 pm
I'm just reporting the news, Skal. I don't know the reasons although I could speculate. Just keepRead More your head down and don't answer the door.
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 07:43 pm
Okay Dave ;-) Whatever you say:-) :-)
Good Grief Y'all June 19, 2013 at 07:47 pm
Scawwy stuff.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 03:05 pm
Tom, I will see if I can find the connection.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 05:51 pm
Good news! Her name is Izzi and she has been reunited with her owners.
Tom Laverick June 18, 2013 at 09:42 pm
Great News!!!!
Good Grief Y'all June 19, 2013 at 07:45 pm
All good points, Skalawag. I think bullying is a big problem with teens. When people are bulliedRead More they either become depressed and introverted or they become bullies themselves. We have examples all around us ;) " the government phobic response" . . . good one and a perfect description of so very many comments on Patch.
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 07:50 pm
As usual Dave all you have are complaints about possible solutions but NO solutions of your own toRead More offer.
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 07:55 pm
There's one in particular GGY.
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 07:35 pm
I remember my Great Grandmother putting just enough coffee in a cup of milk to color the milk and weRead More would sit and have our "morning coffee" together before we went to the farmer's market on Saturdays or before we went to church on Sundays. Those were some of my most cherished times in my life.
Sharon Swanepoel (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 07:58 pm
So glad you have found your voice again Skalawag!
TheSkalawag June 19, 2013 at 08:12 pm
Me too. Couldn't have done it without you and your great IT team. Thank you Sharon.
Tammy Osier June 17, 2013 at 01:53 pm
DR, seems like an oxymoron doesn't it? I'd like to hear from someone who is actually from there toRead More find out their spin on why they even enter a contestant in the first place. It's my understanding that a woman that shows that much skin in public will be flogged or worse? Maybe democracy is taking ahold in some places, who knows?
Good Grief Y'all June 17, 2013 at 03:24 pm
I was wrong. Guys are interested pageants. You would no doubt be happy if the contestants justRead More wore the face shawl with their bikinis.
Karsten Torch June 17, 2013 at 04:30 pm
Couple of thoughts - One, why hold it in a land where there is going to be this kind of protest?Read More Just move it and don't worry about it. Other, I find it interesting how the Muslims want us to be understanding and inclusive of their beliefs, but don't even think they'll allow anything they don't agree with. Just a tad bit hypocritical...
R June 14, 2013 at 02:06 am
You mean the FEES don't you? Cause they aint taxes don't you know...
Bonnie June 14, 2013 at 11:50 am
I call it a "rainbow!"
M.K. Osborne June 14, 2013 at 03:30 pm
Fees is when its lightning too .
Mr. B June 13, 2013 at 01:29 pm
They're not Americans. They don't deserve to step foot on American soil.
Good Grief Y'all June 13, 2013 at 01:34 pm
Meh, a difference without distinction.
Good Grief Y'all June 13, 2013 at 01:37 pm
Huh, you learn something once in a while on Patch blog threads. I didn't know you must be anRead More American citizen to be tried and convicted of crimes against America . . . ;p I think John and Sarah could handle them . . . you betcha! They would probably beg to be sent back to Gitmo. LOL