Comments on: New Yorkers worry about climate change

By: M Shapwick

M Shapwick — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:03:15 +0000

In Boston, we’re surprised that a majority think New York is inhabitable now.

But seriously, it’s hard to go a day here without hearing a reference to global warming. It’s part of many simple social exchanges about the weather (mild winter: “must be global warming,” cold day in May: “so much for global warming). Whether this kind of banter is helpful or harmful is unclear.

People frequently do exchange anecdotal observations about changes they see and speculate about the meaning (birds arriving earlier, shores eroding, hurricanes strengthening, etc…).

The growing division of opinion on global warming along political lines has been an unfortunate development in that it tends to stifle conversation from all parties.

Children around here are impressive in their genuine interest in active practical change to help the planet. So that gives a lot of hope.

By: SSMRIKU

SSMRIKU — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:11:24 +0000

I ,A RESIDENT OF INDIA,HAVE LESS IDEA OF THESE CLIMATIC CHANGES IN NEW YORK OR USA,BUT HERE I HEAR URBANISATION AND GREENHOUSE EFFECT IS LEADING THE WORLD TO NEXT ICE AGE.SO I AM INTERESTED TO CLARIFY THE DOUBT WHETHER MY KNOWLEDGE IS TRUE.

By: Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:20:17 +0000

Lindsay, I find it interesting that so many New Yorkers are aware of the reality of global warming. I wonder if other Americans are as aware, or less aware.

I wonder what similar surveys would show in other parts of the country …

Clearly, there is still a large amount of misinformation about global warming out there. To deny this reality as this point … whew! It’s hard to understand.

Deborah

By: lindsay

lindsay — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:05:29 +0000

You’re describing what’s called the urban heat island. That’s what happens when cities replace soil, plants and trees with roads, buildings and parking lots. Cities absorb more heat during the day and release it at night. It’s a separate phenomena, but not unconnected to global warming.

Scientists are studying how to mitigate the urban heat island effect. Global warming is expected to increase the heat in cities, and we’ll be experiencing more heat waves. More heat will make us turn up our air conditioners, causing us to use more fossil fuels - the well-known cause of global warming - and adding their excess energy to the outside heat.

Of course, what Phoenix is probably most worried about is the severe drought that’s expected to become permanent. And this is a fact (meaning you can go there and see it) Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the country, and a huge water source for the southwest, is half full. That trend is echoed in Lake Powell, the major water source for Phoenix, also experiencing record low levels.

“Proof” and “facts” are negotiable words, but as far as reasons to worry and take whatever steps necessary to mitigate the forces strongly suspected to cause this drought - that’s beyond a shadow of a doubt.

By: a p garcia

a p garcia — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:32:17 +0000

As an Ex-Phoexian (I used to live in Phoenix) I can tell you that it used to be about 10 degrees cooler. The heating has been caused by urbanization where concrete, and buildings and other factors, absord the radiation of the Sun and reradiated during the day. On 115 degrees days, you can feel the radiation from the concrete sidewalks as you walk. Just because people believe does not make it a scientific fact. The scientist of the middle ages believed that the Earth was the center of the universe and the “World was flat”. Just because a majority of the scientist say so didn’t make it a scientific fact. Proof beyond a shadow of a doubt is needed.