The counsel of
Psalm 90:12 is appropriate for daily and mundane as well as eternal and
spiritual guidance. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a
heart of wisdom,” proclaims King David. The Apostle James advises, “If any of
you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding
fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:7). Taking the apostle at his
word, we ask God for wisdom in our discussion of climate and climate change.
When rancorous
debates occur, we must consign the issue to those with minds of wisdom. Society
has been locked in many fierce debates over time. One current debate, abating only
minimally, relates to climate change. Global warming proponents have lately
given the discussion topic a different name. They now speak of climate change.
This oversimplification does not signal the death of global warming. Far from
it, for we are regularly assaulted with the pronouncement that disastrous
global warming results from anthropogenic effects owing to emission of CO2 into
the atmosphere. This outcome of modern society’s consumption of fossil fuels
remains a fear-inspiring cause célèbre.
Reports of
interesting, harsh, or even violent weather fill the news. Media analyses of
such events invariably seem to intone various unsubstantiated theories as
causative. Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 is but one example of many. It was
caused, or intensified, by anthropogenic global warming, it is claimed.
Commentators proclaim without hesitation that events such as periodic floods,
droughts, and even the exceedingly harsh winter of 2013-14 in the Midwest and
east, have explanations in climate change scenarios. Translation: Man is
responsible for the changes!
We must seek an
infusion of wisdom in this analysis. Climate science is exceedingly complex.
Historical events are intertwined with climate conditions characterized by
either long term coolness or warmth. For instance, the Medieval Warm period
followed the cooler Dark Ages. During the Little Ice Age which followed, there
were ice festivals and skating on the Thames River to match dearth and famine.
If we agree that climate is always changing, we first acknowledge that
attributing currently observed modern phenomena to “climate change” is an
example of circular reasoning. Of course climate is changing. It has been
changing for thousands of years both long term and short term. There have been
at least nine major long term temperature fluctuations in the last eight
millennia.
In the distant
past, the era from 6000 BC to 2000 BC is termed the Holocene climate optimum
following the close of the last major Ice Age. Prior to the history of the
sojourn of the Israelites in Egypt a modest cool period was followed by a warm
period from 1500-500 BC. During the Grecian Empire a cool period preceded the
Roman warm period. We review common knowledge of better documented recent
cooling and warming periods, ending with the current “warm period:” (1) The
Roman warm period extended from 100 BC to 400 AD. (2) The Dark Ages, 400-900
AD, were characterized by cooling. (3) The Medieval Warm Period extended from
900-1300 AD. The Little Ice Age (4) lasted from 1300-1850 AD. (5) Finally, the
Current Warm Period began in 1850. This period has seen retreat of glaciers
which continues to this day. The cause of gradual earth warming was not a
societal obsession until the last few decades. Even if the intellectuals of
history reflected on changes in climate, they did not have CO2 and fossil fuels
to include in their explanations.
Temperature
anomalies of 0.5˚C persisting for decades or centuries may bring conspicuous changes
to earth’s climate and the manner in which earth’s life forms cope. These
periodic anomalies did not result in a true “Ice Age,” but their effects on
society were significant. We may explain centuries-long warm and cool periods
with more recently described climate oscillations still occurring today--cyclical
atmospheric or oceanic temperature or pressure fluctuations. Some are short; some
are long. Most oscillations are more or less predictable and regular. These
oscillations have significant effects on climate and their effects are becoming
better known as we continue to study them. My personal favorite phrase to
describe the oscillation scenario: Inherent
variability in global climate.
In the current
“warm” period persisting since 1850, there were four minor warming or cooling
periods since 1910. A warm period occurred 1910-1940; cooling occurred
1940-1970, warming from 1970-1998, and cooling since then. The current cooling
has been dubbed a “hiatus” within a period when global warming enthusiasts
insist the long term trend is inexorably and tragically hotter. Inherent variability of global climate has
been replaced by the frightening scepter of “Climate Change,” formerly touted
as “Anthropocentric Global Warming.”
When God created
Earth, he created an optimal climate system. The climate has experienced many
cooling and warming events. If we endorse “inherent variability” in our global
climate, we will not imprudently attribute the current warming to fossil fuel
consumption. We will remember that causes for long term temperature ups and
downs have been manifold. Fossil fuels have supported human population
expansion from one billion to seven billion in the last 200 years. We would do
well to contemplate whether pulling back from their use in the 21st
century would be a wise path for man to follow. We must look past CO2 to
discover the wisdom of God with respect to multiple causes of climate change.
