Global Warming

How serious it?

Kevin McGee
8/21/2012

Global warming is an international topic. Concern is emphasized by scientists, politicians and civic
leaders. Glacial retreat due to global warming may have alarming effects. Glacial advance is scheduled
for the next 50,000 years. Global warming is as serious as global cooling.

Global temperatures are rising. Global warming is real. And mankind has been
considered the culpable scapegoat. The fact is that global climate shifts are a natural process in
the lifecycle of our planet. Serbian scientist, Milutin Milankovic has developed studies that shed
a different light on global warming. According to Milankovi, the planet does not spin on a
perfect axis. His research indicates that the globe spins off center (Lee, 2012). In other words the
earth wobbles. As a result of this wobbling, our planet experiences significant temperature
variations. These variations have a serious impact on human survivability, but they are normal,
natural and unalterable; they will continue long after man is done playing with things. Some
would have us believe that we can reverse these patterns or that these patterns are wrong.
Nevertheless, global Warming is real and this warming phenomena will proceed with our
without our permission.
Several examples of mankind creating its own demise demonstrate mans ability to
destroy himself. It is concluded by University of California, Los Angeles professor Jared
Diamond that in these cases societies have collapsed as a result of mans choices. Historical
evidence left behind by Mayans, Easter Islanders and the Anasazi are a few examples that
support this contention (Diamond, 2006). Man has the ability to destroy himself, however mans
influence on our planet does not put man in the global driver seat. The collapse and
disappearance of several known societies indicates our ability to alter lifes natural cycles, not
our ability to alter natural cycles of geophysics. In fact, evidence shows that the earth follows a
cyclic pattern of naturally occurring glacial advances and retreats that occur over approximately
100,000 years. A glacial advance is a cooling period where glacial ice grows and warm areas
cool due to the earths relative position to the sun in its wobble-cycle. A glacial retreat is a
warming period where glacial ice recedes and cooler climates experience a rise in temperature.
For example, Milutin explains that the Earth sort of wobbles on its axis in the same fashion as
a toy top wobbles. Both enjoy the same entertaining rotational physics, but neither spins
perfectly. Milutin explains that when we look at global warming it is important to apply a longterm perspective of how the earth behaves (NASA, 2012). Milankovic concludes that; Over 60
glacial advances and retreats have occurred during the last 2 million years. If the term "ice age"
is used to refer to long, generally cool intervals during which glaciers advance then we are far
from that point in this cycle. If glacial recession refers to long, generally warmer intervals during

which glaciers retreat then we are experiencing a warming peak in this cycle. Understanding this
phenomena removes mans impact on what has become known as Global Warming.
Our modern climate represents a very short, warm period between glacial advances. (Lee,
2012). Figure 1 illustrates these warming and cooling cycles over the past one million years.
These peaks and valleys reveal a consistent pattern. According to these conclusions, the earth
experiences a 100,000 year evolution from warm climate through a cool climate and back to a
warm climate again. The scale at the top of Figure 1 sets time in 200,000 year increments. The
Stages of Glaciation at the bottom identifies temperature variation.
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration data supports the
conclusions formed by Milankovich
(Kusterer, 2012). Yes, this information
does indicate that we are experiencing an
increase in global temperatures; yes our
planet is warming. No, this warming
period is not done. Earths current phase
places us near the peak of a warming
cycle. This information indicates that we
Figure 1 Milankovich cycles

are set to ride the planet into another

scheduled cooling period, a mini-ice

age that will bottom out in approximately 50,000 years from now. If man still exists, will we feel
we have gone too far in our efforts to reverse global warming? Will we try to reassume
responsibility for an irreversible cycle of warming and cooling?
It should not cause alarm that our planet is warming. In about 100,000 years from now
we will be at the peak of another warming cycle. 100,000 years puts our childrens children far
into the future. In developed countries humans live an average of 80 years. (OneFile, 2012)
When we take this 80 year figure and extrapolate it through 100,000 years we are looking at
hypothetical 1,250 generations from now. One could wonder if our progeny will remember our
complaints of global warming. Will we become as the echoing Gilgamesh, reaching from the
past to share tales of our time (Foster, 2001)? Will records of our time exist then? In one
thousand centuries will we be alarmed that our planet is warming? Perhaps we wont survive the

cooling period. Will we believe that we are somehow responsible for this effect? Perhaps we
wont survive the warming period. What will we say when the cooling period begins?
The impact of this cycle is more an issue of adaptability. Some suggest warming trends
are a result of mans ever increasing global footprint. Some connect this period of warming is
accelerated by our development of O3 (ozone). Al Gore has established a position on the
seriousness of climate change. But he is assuming that humans have control over a pattern that
has existed for millions of years. Al Gore says; we can solve the climate crisis. It will be hard, to
be sure, but if we can make the choice to solve it, I have no doubt whatsoever that we can and
will succeed (Gore, 2012). Al Gore may be correct about our contribution to global warming;
Science has successfully demonstrated the effects of humans on our habitat. However, given
glacial cycles and their influence on global temperatures, perhaps our goal might better be to
improve our quality of life while we ride along and take measures to prepare for the effects of
increased heat.
Al Gores comments might seem pretentious in the face of Milankovics facts. Perhaps he
and other global warming advocates do understand the cyclic nature of glaciations. Meanwhile as
air conditioner sales go up we might consider what impact we might have on current warming
trend. In the light of scientific facts, adamant assertions that our climate is changing are true, but
who is man to take credit for natural phenomena. Is this an advanced state of human sacrifice to
please a fertility god or are there other motives?
By simple comparison, the Mississippi Delta continues to grow. If we considered the
increasing delta a threat to mankind some might find the nearest Chicken little soapbox to
sound the alarm. The flow of the Mississippi river carries thousands of tons of silt into the Gulf
of Mexico daily adding to existing sediments. If we were able to attribute these phenomena to
human obesity we might consider our alternatives as we seek to correct this problem. Some
might advocate healthier diets and exercise. Others might push for dykes, levies and dams to
preserve our dietary way of life. Will this change the course of the river, or will the river
continue to grow the delta?
Global warming has serious implications for man. Global warming is serious. Glacial
recession impacts us directly. Yet glacial advances and retreats have impacted life for millions of
years and for millions of species. Perhaps we can adapt. Perhaps we will survive. Furthermore,
perhaps our human contributions to our ecosystem in the form of carbon footprints and ozone

layers will not alter glacial patterns. Milankovics works scoff at the notion that climate change is
our fault. Global warming is serious, but none among us can reach forth a hand to slow the
rotation of the earth or alter its axis or right its wobble. While we can take steps to improve the
environment we live in, we are only along for the ride. We cannot change the rhythm of the
planet we live on. Global warming is serious, but global climate shifts have never asked for our
permission. They need neither our consent nor our approval. Scientific discoveries help us to
better understand our environment, and rational thinkers put these things into perspective.

Works Cited
Diamond, J. (2006). Collapse, how societies choose to fail or succeed. London, England: Penguin Press.
Foster, B. R. (2001). The epic of gilgamesh. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.
Gore, A. (2012). A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. Retrieved from Our Choice:
http://ourchoicethebook.com/site_media/index2.html
Kusterer, J. M. (2012). NASA ERB data. Retrieved from Atmospheric Science Data Center:
http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/PRODOCS/erbe/table_erbe.html
Lee, J. (2012). "Milankovitch cycles". Retrieved from Encyclopedia of Earth:
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Milankovitch_cycles
NASA. (2012). Climate Data Information. Retrieved from Milankovitch Cycles:
http://www.climatedata.info/Forcing/Forcing/milankovitchcycles.html
OneFile, G. (2012, February). Hope for the future. Mother Earth News .
Wildlife Library. (2012). Retrieved from National Wildlife Federation:
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Gray-Wolf.aspx