Global-warming alarmists are gearing up for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December with increasingly threatening tales of pending eco-disaster. The latest of these comes in the form of a Reuters article that predicts "the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free during the summer within twenty years."

The claim is based on research that compares current sea ice cover at the North Pole to measurements taken in 2007. According to scientists quoted in the article, more sea ice is melting in the summer than should. They claim it will have a snowball effect on global warming by raising temperatures worldwide since the exposed dark ocean water absorbs sunlight rather than reflecting it as ice does. The article quotes Britain's Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband as saying, "This further strengthens the case for an ambitious global deal in Copenhagen."

But what about scientific evidence that weakens the case for Secretary Miliband's "global deal?" It is unlikely the Climate Change Convention will provide a forum for valid scientific research pointing to the possibility that arctic ice levels do not pose a threat to global climate. Christopher Monckton's Would CO2 Emission Cuts Save Arctic Ice and Reduce Sea-Level Rise? published in April of this year by the Science and Public Policy Institute deserves a public hearing. Monckton was a policy advisor to Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, and his findings are based on research by mainstream sources such as NASA, the University of Illinois, and the University of Colorado.

Monckton reports that NASA recently "attributed this ice-melt to unusual northbound currents and winds bringing warmth up from the topics to the Arctic, and ... that the summertime Polar winds in 2007/8 had blown much of the sea ice southward into warmer waters, where it melted." Further, University of Illinois researchers found that increased volcanic activity in the area could have contributed to summer melting in 2007. Since the average global temperatures cooled during the same time period, global warming cannot be blamed, argues Monckton.

But does all this melting translate to rising temperatures and sea levels? On the contrary, average global temperatures have steadily decreased during the same time period. As to sea levels, research conducted by the University of Colorado shows there has been no increase in the rate of rise over the last several centuries, and there is no evidence to support that this is increasing during the 21st century.

Also of note is sea ice at the South Pole. The University of Illinois reports that Antarctic sea ice levels have steadily risen to a 30-year maximum in late 2007. It shows, too, that worldwide levels remained relatively stable over the same 30-year period. Monckton says facts like these are largely ignored by global warming pundits having a meltdown over ice levels in the northern hemisphere. Unfortunately, such inconvenient facts will probably go unnoticed in Copenhagen, too.

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Jim Scott said:

	Science Editor You write: As to sea levels, research conducted by the University of Colorado shows there has been no increase in the rate of rise over the last several centuries, and there is no evidence to support that this is increasing during the 21st century. Please cite your source.
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October 16, 2009
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Curious said:

... First off, there is no evidence of global warming, much less anthropogenic global warming. But, let's just ASSUME for a minute that there is global warming. A warmer climate would mean a longer growing season and growing seasons coming to be in areas which have no growing season because it's too cold. This translates to more food. Cold weather is more of a detriment to health than warm weather. A warmer climate would be healthier. This would be a bad thing how?

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October 16, 2009
Votes: +3

Flu-Bird said:

	More green hysteria Way back in 1968 when PAUL EHRLICH wrote his book THE POPULATION BOMB he was making all sorts of rediculous predictions and none ever happened but the greens are lying about it again as they always do and the lap dog press just sit there and parrot these green lies
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October 16, 2009
Votes: +3

Carl D. said:

	head junker Seriously? You're citing the CORPORATE FUNDED "Science and Public Policy Institute"? You're not even worth debating you dumbass.
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October 17, 2009 | url
Votes: -5

Bonnie said:

Picky, picky, picky Carl D. doesn't like the "Science and Public Policy Institute". How does he feel about NASA, the University of Illinois, and the University of Colorado? But of course, I am sure he fully supports Al Gore's load of bull manure publicly know as "An Inconvenient Truth". Would Carl D. also like to shrug off: Stanley B. Goldenberg of the Hurricane Research Division of NOAA Dr. Joanne Simpson Dr. Kiminori Itoh Dr. Eduardo Tonni Dr. Takeda Kunihiko Dr. David Gee Professor Delgado Domingos Bill Gray, Colorado State University Roger Pielke Sr., University of Colorado Sterling Burnett ...and 15,000 other scientists.

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October 17, 2009
Votes: +3

Emmett Barcalow said:

... Average global temperatures have steadily decreased? Since climate is a long-term average of such variables as temperature and precipitation, averages over decades are far more meaningful than annual averages. Since 1880, decade by decade, Earth's average temperature has risen. According to NOAA and NASA data, the decade 1998-2008 was the warmest. And proxy measures of temperature going back thousands of years shows that Earth's average temperature is now higher than it has been in a very, very long time. As for sea levels, according to NASA, sea levels since 1900 have increased by 1.7-1.8 mm/year. Since 1993 an acceleration has been seen to 2.8 mm/yr. I wish that people would heed real climate scientists and scientific organizations who actually know something about climate change rather than people like you who don't know what they're talking about.

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October 17, 2009
Votes: -3

Bonnie said:

Enough with all "the sky is falling" crap! Emmett Barcalow doesn't like the fact that the last several years show a decrease in global temperatures, so he expands it to a span of years which supports rising temperatures. Unfortunately, if we expand further we can show decreasing temperatures. Actually, by expanding even further, we can show that temperatures tend to go up, then go down, then go back up, then go back down... all this proves is that global temperatures have, and always will, vary. As to sea levels, yes they were rising, now they are falling. It is believed that at one time sea levels may have been 550 feet higher than now. So, like global temperatures, sea levels will vary over time, rising one year and dropping the next. A higher than average rise in one year may be offset by a higher than average drop in another year. All it proves is that sea levels have, and always will, vary. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. - Matthew 10:29-31

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October 18, 2009
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Peter Jay said:

Resorting to invective to hide a deficiency in mentality When Carl D. stoops to use what he likes to think are shocking or deliciously bold diaper comments to express his preadolescent frustrations, we know he has nothing constructive nor relevant to share. That he, apparently, relies on honest, unbiased GOVERNMENT-FUNDED research, like maybe UN reports, etc., shows he is a coddled little boy who suckles up to StateThink for his information and security.

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October 18, 2009
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Peter Jay said:

	Author writes with style and no-nonsense authority The article by Becka Terrell, Global Warming on the Rocks, was as well-written and informative as any in on the subject. I like her lucent style and command of facts as she relates this tale of inconvenient facts. Hope to be reading more from such a capable personality.
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October 18, 2009
Votes: +1

PV said:

How can we be getting cooler? Warmists need to explain how in the 7 decades since human CO2 emissions have seen a significant increase, 5 out these 7 decades have shown decreasing global surface temperatures. This is impossible if we are to accept that increasing GHGs build up and store latent heat energy. All of the available metrics show the earth is losing heat, not storing it. When are the Warmists going to become Realists?

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October 19, 2009
Votes: +2

Bonnie said:

	The REAL global warming! And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. Revelation 16:8-9
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October 22, 2009
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