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It would be helpful for further discussion on global warming if Monte Heil would clarify his position on a couple of related matters. In his letter of Dec. 13 in the Daily Bee, he addressed Tyndall’s discovery in 1859 that CO2 is a greenhouse gas. In doing so, he states, “19th century scientists had primitive concepts of elemental gasses which have long since been debunked by modern science.”

Question 1: Does he believe that further research in the physical sciences has proven that CO2 is not a greenhouse gas? Or was he simply using that statement as a rhetorical device to give the false impression that Tyndall’s finding was in error?

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are the highest they have been in the last 800,000 years. Radiocarbon studies and others have shown that most of the excess is derived from the combustion of fossil fuels. Average global temperatures are increasing at an historically unprecedented rate as the atmospheric CO2 concentration continues to climb. Over 90% of the world’s climatologists agree that this warming presents a serious problem that is largely man-caused.

Question 2: If he does not believe CO2 from the combustion of fossil fuels is largely responsible for the current warming, to what does he attribute that warming?

Where he disagrees with mainstream climate science on these issues, it would helpful if he would cite up-to-date, well-documented, peer-reviewed studies that have been published in reputable scientific journals to support his position. Inquiring minds would like to know.

Jack DeBAUN

Sandpoint