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Archived Rebuttal
This is the archived Basic rebuttal to the climate myth "Was Greenland really green in the past?". Click here to view the latest rebuttal.
What the science says...
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The Greenland ice sheet is at least 400,000 years old, and other parts of the earth got colder when Greenland got warmer. |
The argument that Greenland was green is generally used to imply two things. First, if the climate changed in the past due to natural causes, it follows that current climate change is also down to natural causes. Secondly, it also suggests that current climate change is not unusual or even pronounced since Greenland was apparently warmer when the Vikings established their settlements in the 10th century. Both arguments can easily be refuted. it should also be noted that Greenland's ice sheet, which currently covers about 80% of the island, is at least 400,000 years. This casts doubt over the claim that Greenland was green some 1,000 years ago.
There is no evidence that natural factors are driving current change
Scientists have looked at all factors known to have an impact on global climate change. There is very little evidence that natural factors are having a major impact on our climate.
Updated on 2012-11-20 by Anne-Marie Blackburn.
THE ESCALATOR
(free to republish)