Tim Worstall

15 responses so far ↓

• 1 David // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:13 am

  As global warming is only an average temperature increase it does not mean that we would never have cold winters. Although of course this is nothing compared to 63 and 48.

• 2 Tristan // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:40 am

  Next: Drops in global temperature are consistent with global warming…

  (actually, I think this has been claimed using the reasoning that natural changes are masking the effects of AGW)

• 3 Blithering Bunny // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:56 am

  “Consistent” is one of those words that scientists get very confused about. Strictly speaking, all it means is “doesn’t contradict”. (This sort of usage came in with Popper, for the reason that Popper claimed that was no such thing as supporting evidence). But many scientists slip between that meaning and a stronger meaning, where “consistent with” means “supports”.

• 4 Kit // Feb 3, 2009 at 11:43 am

  “Snow is consistent with global warming, say scientists”

  A scientist clearly didn’t say that because he would have used the term “Climate Change” rather than “Global Warming”. “Global Warming” is sooo last year.

• 5 Luis Enrique // Feb 3, 2009 at 12:12 pm

  Are they talking about the Gulf Stream moving, and leaving us as cold as Canada? Yes, that’s “consistent with global warming”. Here is something that isn’t consistent with global warming – the polar ice gaps growing, sea levels dropping and the Sahara desert sprouting water meadows.

• 6 Nigel Sedgwick // Feb 3, 2009 at 12:21 pm

  It’s clearly time for refreshing the link to Numberwatch’s superb A complete list of things caused by global warming.

  Best regards

• 7 Mister Jones // Feb 3, 2009 at 5:30 pm

  Blaming cooler weather on warming? That is soooo desperate.

  Come on guys, what has happened to all the things you predicted would happen?

• 8 MarkS // Feb 3, 2009 at 5:48 pm

  I would like to make it clear that this snowstorm did not originate in Britain but was caused by weather systems outside the government’s control. Of course we are doing everything we can to help families and businesses weather the severe conditions and we will continue to take the right long-term decisions so that we can pull out of this snow event as soon as possible. But I should point out that the snow is not as bad here in Britain as in other countries and we are well placed for when the snow thaws.

  Gordon Brown

• 9 diogenes1960 // Feb 3, 2009 at 5:57 pm

  MarkS – it’s not just “families” in general but “hard-working families”

• 10 MarkS // Feb 3, 2009 at 5:59 pm

  Damn! I so nearly got it right. I even had the accent right and the sudden jaw drop and then I go and spoil it all.

• 11 diogenes1960 // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:09 pm

  marks – you got the jaw-dropping lack of relevance almost spot on…:)

• 12 MarkS // Feb 3, 2009 at 10:11 pm

  It’s all about blame…

• 13 BlacquesJacquesShellacques // Feb 4, 2009 at 12:36 am

  “…leaving us as cold as Canada?”

  Might make men outa ya, ya buncha girlies.

• 14 Brit_in_Aussie // Feb 4, 2009 at 4:53 am

  Actually, the Sahara sprouting water meadows WOULD be consistent with global warming as it was during the Holocene Optimum some 6-8000 years ago. Then it cooled and the trees and rivers disappeared to leave a gasping desert thousands of miles across, which is what we see today.

  But it ain’t going to happen. Global warming has stopped, the Antarctic ice sheet continues to grow and global sea level rise is beginning to slow.

  Next stop after “climate change” is “global cooling.

• 15 gene berman // Feb 4, 2009 at 6:02 pm

  Snowin’ outside; must be consistent with something.

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