Global Warming Thoughts

Recently, there have been a few stories about the Record Low amounts of ice cover in the Arctic.
http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=61879 and http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=62940 are two stories that you can check out about the shrinking polar ice cap.

There was also news about Felix and Dean being the first time that 2 Category 5 storms have made landfall in the same season. Meaning that there were Category 5 storms at the time of landfall.

These stories have some importance, but let's put them in to some perspective.

A declining polar ice cap will only help quicken global warming. More sun is absorbed by dark surfaces than lighter surfaces and the shrinking of the ice cap will allow more heat to be absorbed by the ocean instead of reflected back into space by the ice. Scientists have also argued that certain animal species, like polar bears will be severely threatened by less ice because that is there main hunting ground. Will the polar bears adapt and catch more food on land or are their days numbered? I don't know. I do believe that we are in a warming trend, but I don't know how much damage man is really doing versus larger, possibly unknown, planetary cycles.

On the flip side, and there are always 2 or more sides to everything, global warming could open up the elusive Northwest Passage for shipping and may also make areas of Alaska, Russia and Canada viable farmland as opposed to frozen tundra. I love asking kids in school what might be some "positive" impacts of global warming. I'm often perceived as someone who thinks Global Warming is a good thing. I just want the kids in school to think! I am in favor of cleaner energies, fuels and recycling and more efficient everything.

Now for the hurricanes....we made history, supposedly with the 2 Category 5 storms making landfall in the same season in the Atlantic Basin. But you have to realize that Satellite technology is less than 50 years old. Before that we relied on detailed weather records from coastal communities. Also, the countries of Central America and the Caribbean are not quite as technologically advanced as the U.S.A (don't get mad at me for stating facts here) and there is certainly the possibility that Category 5 Hurricanes have struck in the past and we just didn't know it because the weather stations weren't there or the communications weren't there.

So, I guess I'm just trying to say that I think you should take these stories seriously, but please try to keep them in perspective.