Didn't Global Warming Theory Predict An Increase In Ice Levels At The Poles?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the relationship between global warming and polar ice levels. It is clarified that while Earth’s warming leads to ice melting, recent increases in polar ice are attributed to solar cycles and a lack of sunspots, rather than climate change. The IPCC forecasts more precipitation and snow in Arctic regions due to rising temperatures, which enhance moisture in the atmosphere. This results in heavier snowfall when temperatures rise from extreme lows. The variability in sea ice growth is influenced by multiple factors, particularly cloud cover, which affects infrared radiation. The argument emphasizes that one year of increased ice levels does not establish a trend, and successful predictions do not necessarily validate a hypothesis, highlighting the logical fallacy of affirming the consequent.
LightbulbSun
Messages
64
Reaction score
2
If so, wasn't it confirmed when we saw an increase in ice levels at the poles this year?
 
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
NO
if Earth gets warmer ice melts

current polar ice recovery is due to the sun cycles
and the current lack of sun spots
 
ray b said:
NO
if Earth gets warmer ice melts

current polar ice recovery is due to the sun cycles
and the current lack of sun spots

Actually the IPCC predicts an increase of precipitation / snow in the Arctic regions, not an increase in sea ice.

Increased precipitation rates are logical since the moisture contents of the air decreases strongly with temperatures. Heavy snowfall below some 20 degrees Celsius (-3F) is rare. It's too cold to snow. So if the temperatures increase from -30 to -20 you could expect more snow.

This is also assumed to be the relation between alleged temperature and snow accumulation in the past as analyzed from the ice cores:

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/pubs/alley2000/alley2000.gif

Obviously the sea ice growth is depending on many factors, with probably the most important, the lack of clouds, reducing back IR radiation. You can see that effect under bridges, under which, the water takes the longest to freeze, because the bridge radiates IR radiation back to the water.

LightbulbSun said:
If so, wasn't it confirmed when we saw an increase in ice levels at the poles this year?

What is "confirmed"? One year does not a trend make. Sea ice was relatively low in the Arctic but more extensive in the Antarctic, so what to say about that? Moreover even if predictions are confirmed, it would support a hypothesis but it does not proof it. Especially binary predictions (more or less) are less convincing than daring / counter-intuitive predictions.

Finally, concluding from a successful prediction that a hypothesis is correct is a logical fallacy, known as "affirming the consequent": A then B, B hence A. Or: If it is snowing, the fields are white. Now the fields are white, hence it is snowing.
 
Thread 'The Secrets of Prof. Verschure's Rosetta Stones'
(Edit: since the thread title was changed, this first sentence is too cryptic: the original title referred to a Tool song....) Besides being a favorite song by a favorite band, the thread title is a straightforward play on words. This summer, as a present to myself for being promoted, I purchased a collection of thin sections that I believe comprise the research materials of Prof. Rob Verschure, who at the time was faculty in the Geological Institute in Amsterdam. What changed this...

Similar threads

Back
Top