Burn a log and see it through, with heat and soot and CO2!

[gfish]

CNN: Antarctic ice station likely to float away

An interesting article, but that's not why I'm linking to it. It talks about global warming as if it is the default explanation. Let me repeat: A story carried on CNN offhandedly mentions global warming as an assumed truism. The only way for this to be more shocking would be if it was on Fox News.

Of course, this is nothing new in non-US media. I admit I don't have the data myself, and the issue is so politicized here that it's hard to evaluate, but I've been seeing a bit of a sea change over the last few years. No one not in the {wacko, energy industry, US media} tuple seems to be disputing it any more. Is this the beginning of a quiet acquiescence?

Comments

[helenangel.livejournal.com]

It was my understanding that our ice caps would melt almost entirely anyway eventually as we are coming out of an ice age. At least, that's what they told me in my geology class =)

[gfish.livejournal.com]

No, the icecaps have been there much longer than the last interglacial period. We have core data going back at least 400,000 years. I'm finding quotes that the Antarctic icecap has been there for the last 5 million years, which jives with what I know of continental drift and how it shapes the global climate, but I'd have to dig deeper for hard numbers.

Anyway, the current interglacial is well over halfway finished. We're well on our way back towards the next ice age, wheee!

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

I think that this change in perspective is part of a seachange in the US media. I think it's significant in that you have noticed it now, but that you have gotten to see this means that the change has already happened at CNN. (Note, though, that it's a Reuters wire piece from London. CNN felt comfortable using the London stringer's account, which means picking up a bit of British spin. The real change will be when CNN's in-house reporting is so casual. Which, I hope, will be soon.)

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

What's the rhyme from?

[mrlogic.livejournal.com]

*performs quick kung-google moves*

I'm finding it in Fallen Angels by Larry Niven...whether this is Ursprung I'm not sure, but I'd lay odds he found it there.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Right in one!