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"At this rate, the Arctic Ocean could be nearly ice-free at the end of the summer by 2012, much faster than previous predictions." I'm not sure why you read th
by take_a_breath 7y ago
"At this rate, the Arctic Ocean could be nearly ice-free at the end of the summer by 2012, much faster than previous predictions."
I'm not sure why you read this as a prediction. The article mentions how this statement was made in 2007, a year that saw "record melt all over the Arctic." This fact probably accounts for the "at this rate" qualifier used above. The phrase "nearly ice-free" is also not the same as "no ice."
==I am not saying climate change isn't happening but predictions like this are not useful.==
Maybe it is more about how you frame things in your mind. In this case, you inferred a prediction and used that to discredit the scientific data.
- macinjosh 7y agoYour quote from the article literally says 'much faster than previous predictions'. The article implies it is a prediction. I didn't infer anything. > you inferred a prediction and used that to discredit the scientific data. I did no such thing. I discredited the interpretation of scientific data. Huge difference compadre.
- take_a_breath 7y agoHe says, if the rate from 2007 holds up, the melt will happen faster than others predicted. He is not predicting that it will hold up or saying outright that the ice will melt by 2012. The rate from 2007 didn't hold up, which invalidates the rest of the comment. Either way, you still manage to ignore the phrase "could be nearly ice-free", as that discredits your entire assumption that he predicted it would be ice-free in 2012.
- macinjosh 7y agoStatements like "could be nearly ice-free" are milk toast and meaninglessness. It is plan and simple CYA. It provides an out if the predictions don't turn out they way they expect or desire.
- jf22 7y agoAre we arguing semantics or whether or not climate change is occurring or ice is melting?
- take_a_breath 7y agoThis is the whole tactic. Shift the argument to one about semantics (and articles from 13 years ago), meanwhile ignoring the mountains of scientific evidence we have today.