No headline

Climate change deniers frequently present opinions that support their preconceived ideas as facts. Weather data (facts) are measurements of temperature, humidity, glacier sizes, etc. and we use the scientific process to figure out what these numbers are telling us. Weather data is collected at hundreds of weather stations around the world and from satellites.

When deniers say “man-made climate change is only a theory” they are correct, but it’s a scientific theory that is supported by many years of data (facts). Scientific theories are developed to explain what we see in our world and they are adjusted and gain credibility over time as more data are collected.

When deniers say: “the climate has always changed” they are referencing a scientific theory based on data in the geologic record. In the past, ice ages came and went with glaciers expanding and contracting over thousands of years. Today, most glaciers have shrunk at ever increasing rates over a few hundred years.

Recent data has shown a strong correlation between changes in average global temperatures and the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The numbers and their correlation are facts that support the theory of human-caused climate change. Trends are also facts: every year since 1977 has been warmer than the 20th century average and 16 of the 17 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001. These numbers are not someone’s opinion. Opinions are not facts, but it’s a fact that everyone has opinions.

KEN THACKER

Sagle