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It's cold because it's winter, not because global warming isn't happening

Cold and snow mean it's winter
Mark Brush
/
Michigan Radio
Cold and snow mean it's winter

The sub-zero temperatures across the state of Michigan this morning do not mean that global warming isn't real. 

Jeff Masters, Director of Meteorology for Weather Underground, is explaining this a lot these days.  He says the long-term trend is clearly a warming planet.  But global warming doesn't mean 'no more winter.'

"The earth is still tilted on its axis," says Masters, "which means we get unequal heating of the poles, and that causes the seasons, and the seasons haven't gone away.  We still expect cold weather, just less of it."

Masters says people need to look beyond their own city's temperature ups and downs to understand global warming.

"And when you look at the entire globe, this year is going to be our third consecutive warmest year on record, averaged over earth's surface," says Masters.

This November was also the second warmest November on record.

Masters says 97% of earth scientists agree human activity is causing global warming.  That's about the same number of medical researchers who are convinced smoking causes cancer.

The biggest contributor to global warming is the carbon emissions from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas, along with industrial processes. That accounts for about 65% of greenhouse gases.

Deforestation, the use of fertilizers, and the burning of biomass are other large contributors of greenhouse gases.

Copyright 2016 Michigan Radio

Tracy Samilton covers the auto beat for Michigan Radio. She has worked for the station for 12 years, and started out as an intern before becoming a part-time and, later, a full-time reporter. Tracy's reports on the auto industry can frequently be heard on Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as on Michigan Radio. She considers her coverage of the landmark lawsuit against the University of Michigan for its use of affirmative action a highlight of her reporting career.