Humans have been warming the Earth’s climate for the last 10,000 years, US scientist William Ruddiman claims.
The University of Virginia professor says agriculture has put greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, pushing up temperatures by about one Celsius.
Now this guy has a point and probably has done some fancy simulations to push his point. But is this increase in temperature significant when looking at greenhouse emissions since the industrial revolution.
I think he’s out to make a name for himself a measly 1degC over 10 000 years is not significant at all.
Then again I have argued in the past that any climate change brought about by anthropogenic activity is natural and part of the biosphere change of the Earth.
Not only that, but according to paleogeologists, if it were not for the greehouse effect, there would not even be life on Earth! Our ancient atmosphere captured much more heat than it released - thankfully. So as far as geologic time is concerned, the current complaints about the greenhouse effect are nothing compared to the one that existed before life even began on this planet. It is the same with acid rain. The fist drop of rain that ever fell on the Earth was acidic. Not a new event. I am NOT however, suggesting we do nothing about the pollution and rape of the planet's resources - just pointing out that this is not something that came about lately.