A recent National Snow and Ice Data Center’s report on Arctic Sea Ice Extent must be confusing to those who have been telling us the melting of Arctic ice is proof that there is global warming caused by human activity.  The first graph shows that ice coverage is still below the 1979-2000 average, but is about a million square kilometers greater than 2006-2007. The written descriptions would seem to want people to think sea ice is still on the decline despite this recent increase. For example, it says, “This year’s maximum ice extent was the ninth lowest in the satellite record…” “Ninth lowest” is emphasized while the recent large increase in ice coverage is mentioned in passing.

The global warming theory is that increasing carbon dioxide levels will cause higher temperatures and more ice melting. That isn’t what has happened the last few years. One of the global warming advocates said that the fact temperatures aren’t rising with carbon dioxide levels is a “travesty.” The earth seems to be thumbing its nose at the theories, and that is considered to be a “travesty.”

I’ve written in previous posts that the only certainty is that the climate will change as it has throughout earth’s history. I now think there is another certainty, and that is the global warming advocates will use any data to justify their beliefs. In 2010 the fact that people on the East Coast were in their snowbound homes was “proof” of global warming. The actual words in the article “Climate Change Debate is Heating up in Deep Freeze” by John M. Broder were “…that occasional cooling is consistent with global warming, because ferocious storms and intense weather events are caused by global warming.” And now you know the source of the confusing title to this posting.

Global warming advocates have jumped at the chance to blame recent unusually warm weather in parts of  the U.S. and tornado outbreaks on global warming. I didn’t read that the brutal cold in Europe was also caused by global warming. However, I’ve learned to take for granted that any weather result can be attributed to global warming. Matt Drudge noted on his web site that a 2010 Senate hearing on global warming was canceled because of the weather. The federal government was shuttered by a snow storm.

There are numerous indications that the predicted global warming is not happening. There is a report by Dean Nelson and Richard Alleyne titled “Some Himalayan glaciers are advancing rather than melting, study finds.” The report challenges the 2007 UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the glaciers would be gone by 2035. The new report advocates that half of the 286 glaciers are increasing in size instead of melting. The report also observes that global warming has little to do with what happens to glaciers. The “…key factor affecting their advance or retreat is the amount of debris—rocks and mud—strewn on their surface.” The debris prevents the glaciers from melting.

My hope is that there is sufficient energy from the sun to cause warmer temperatures. Those higher temperatures along with higher carbon dioxide levels would have all manner of positive effects. There are correlations between warmer temperatures and lower human death rates. Warmer temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels contribute to increased plant growth. Faster growth of forests is good. Increased food production is an even better.

I know that the core of global warming advocacy is directed at convincing us human activities, and especially activities that are involved with energy production and manufacturing, are bad for the earth. I selfishly appreciate having relatively low cost energy to heat and cool our home and keep the lights and computer running. I also appreciate the life style provided by a healthy economy. I wish I could believe that “climate science” is really about science and not about a political judgment that we humans are a scourge on the pristine earth on which we are imposing.