Jan 25, 2007 8:48 am US/Central
Good Question: Global Warming Or Climate Change?
by Ben Tracy
(WCCO)
President Bush received a standing ovation during the State of the Union address for using three words he has rarely spoken: "global climate change."
It was striking in that it was an acknowledgment from the president that such a thing is occurring. It was also interesting that he did not use the phrase "global warming." So, what is the difference between climate change and global warming?
"Scientifically there is a difference," said David Morris, an energy policy expert. "Global warming is what is happening. The globe is warming up and so overall temperatures are increasing. And as they increase, it produces instability within the climate and within the weather patterns."
In other words, global warming could be thought of as a cause of climate change.
"I think I hear global warming most in the media," said one woman in the Twin Cities.
That can make it sound as if it's going to get warmer everywhere, but scientists say climate change will be less predictable.
"You have snow in some places you didn't before, you have droughts, you have hurricanes," said Morris.
He said the debate among some is no longer about whether the planet is warming, but about what is the cause. Is it humans or is it a natural cycle? The majority of the scientific community believes much of it is caused by humans. Now, even oil companies agree.
"Shell believes that the climate change issues that we face include man-made contributions to what's called global warming," said John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil Company.
"Virtually no one denies the fact of global warming any longer," said Morris. "Now the question becomes a political one. What are the sacrifices that we will have to make in order to stop climate change? And that debate is just beginning."
Here in Minnesota, we are having a fairly warm winter. Some wonder if that is evidence of global warming or climate change.
We have to remember that weather is what is happening in the atmosphere over a short period of time, such as this week or this winter.
Climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over long periods of time.
Climate change could explain why children today do not trudge through the massive piles of snow their grandparents did.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Stumble It!
