Defenders of the “greenhouse effect is good” theory, who propose that we continue burning fossil fuels until every last drop is extracted from the ground say that the greenhouse effect will be a good thing:
1. Cold areas will become tropical and extend growing seasons to feed expanding populations.
This is clearly not true. Cold areas may become warmer but they will certainly not become tropical. They will for example still have long dark winters during which nothing will grow. The growing season may be extended, at least in some areas, but this kind of regional studies are still in their infancy.
2. Increased carbon dioxide in the air has been known to promote green plant growth, which tends to consume the carbon, capture it and create lush and most areas.
This is true in a greenhouse with unlimited supply of water and nutrients, but is generally considered to be an insignificant effect in nature. To the extent there will be carbon fertilization this is not necessarily a good thing either. The extra plant mass tends to be mostly cellulose which mean that the nutrient contents of the plants go down and animals will have a harder time getting enough food.
3. The rising sea water may not be as significant as predicted. The rise is due to the expansion of water by temperature, not by the volume added by the melting ice caps.
That thermal expanson will be most important is what is predicted so how can this be less significant than predicted? The fate of the ice caps is largely unknown but adds a considerable risk.
4. Brighter sun may mean that we can use solar energy to cool our homes with environmentally clean refrigerants.
Why should the sun get brighter just because we add more CO2 to the atmosphere? If anything there is supposed to be slightly more clouds giving less sunshine.
5. Warmer climate means less fuel burned for heating our homes.
But more for cooling them. Not to mention what the expected increase in intense rainfall will do.
6. More days at the beach.
Yeah, right. That is certainly the most important problem for the majority of the population in the world right now.
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, I rate this post for four from five. Detailed info, but I have to go to that damn msn to find the missed pieces. Thank you, anyway!