By Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor
Ecnmag.com – November 11, 2009
A central tenet of “climate change” dogma holds that increased emissions (2 billion tons a year in 1850 to 35 billion tons a year now) leads to greater CO2 levels in the atmosphere. But a new study from the University of Bristol could shake up traditional assumptions. The study suggests that CO2 levels have remained constant since 1850.
According to the University, “The results run contrary to a significant body of recent research which expects that the capacity of terrestrial ecosystems and the oceans to absorb CO2 should start to diminish as CO2 emissions increase, letting greenhouse gas levels skyrocket.” In fact, the trend in the airborne fraction has only been 0.7 ± 1.4% per decade (essentially zero).
Dr Wolfgang Knorr based his data on empirical records and historical data extracted from Antarctic ice, rather than quasi-scientific climate models (upon which “climatologists” have based their career). Knorr found that CO2 levels have remained constant at about 50%.
This isn’t a slam-dunk case against “climate change.” There’s still the issue of the “other 50%.” To put it simply, 50% of 35 billion is still greater than 50% of 2 billion. But if true, this new data calls into question the “emergency” of global warming. Activists like Al Gore and farcical movies like The Day After Tomorrow predict rapid climate change, predicated on the diminishing capacity of ecosystems to absorb CO2. Such a reduced capacity would cause an exponential increase in CO2 levels (leading to Hollywood-style doomsday scenarios). Note to alarmists: start looking for a new job.
