Climategate

[steelish]

The recent Icelandic eruption released more co2 in ONE DAY than ALL OF EUROPE did in a year.

[Thorne]

The recent Icelandic eruption released more co2 in ONE DAY than ALL OF EUROPE did in a year.

While this is true, it is also misleading. Volcanoes and other natural sources of CO2 are relative constants in the long term. They've always been there, and as far as people are concerned they always will be. CO2 emissions from them will have peaks and valleys but the average effect will remain relatively constant.

But this does illustrate some of the complexity of climate study. When determining CO2 levels, or temperatures, or any number of other factors, in the past, one of the things climatologists have to consider is the effects of localized geothermal activity. Krakatoa had a devastating impact on global climate for several years, lowering temperatures significantly. Mt. St. Helens had a similar effect on the US for a time. Mt. Pinatubo, in the Philippines, blew a massive hole in the ozone layer, something scientists never expected could happen. As scientists learn more about how these things effect our climate, they have to go back and reanalyze data that may have been affected by them.

One very important thing that non-scientists should familiarize themselves with is how the scientific method works. It's a self-correcting process which helps to advance good science while minimizing bad science. But it is still a human process, so there are mistakes and misunderstandings. There can also be fraud and deceit. But it's the best process we have for learning the truth.

[DuncanONeil]

The recent Icelandic eruption released more co2 in ONE DAY than ALL OF EUROPE did in a year.

Perhaps that was the planet trying to cool down! Putting all that "sun block" in the air.