The wacky world of climate science

Or why the public doesn't pay attention to the 'experts'. Sometimes scientists open their mouths in public and prove themselves irrelevant. Perhaps this guy missed his calling as a comedian.

Running runs out of plants. Professor Running has followed his model to the conclusion that the Earth may run out of plants.

Some musings on this research can be found here at Greenie Watch.

Quote:

"Publicity-hungry scientists find a goldmine in global warming. Just think up some extreme implication of it and the media will be all over you. It is a temptation to which many respond. "Running out of plants" is however a more extreme extrapolation than usual.

It is so ignorant that it is difficult to know where to start when critiquing it -- so I will mention just two main points. The biggest fallacy is in regarding the total biomass on earth as fixed. It is not. It is responsive to two major factors: Water availability and carbon availability. Plants are almost entirely made up of water and carbon. And guess what the global warming theory implies: More water (through evaporation of the seas) and more carbon in the form of CO2. Plants like warmer temperatures too. So the clear implication of global warming is that we should have A LOT MORE plantlife in future. So bring on that CO2!

The other main point is China. China shows vividly how responsive to politics plants are. China under Mao was a major food importer. Australian wheat farmers blessed him regularly. Under a more capitalistic system, however, China is a major food exporter -- being in fact the world's biggest exporter of fruit and vegetables. You have probably seen Chinese offerings in the Produce section of your local supermarket. So if we really are running low on food plants, bring on more capitalism! Capitalism is good for plants too! -- JR"

End quote

To keep up with peer reviewed research on plant response to CO2 enrichment click here.

CO2 has been exhaled during the creation of this post. No living thing was harmed. Some even liked it.