Warming blame off base

Oct. 6, 2008
I get so tired of reading such one-sided, biased letters as Jeff Temple’s on the question of global warming and his conclusion that it is the oil industry that is primarily responsible (OGJ, July 7, 2008, p.12).

I get so tired of reading such one-sided, biased letters as Jeff Temple’s on the question of global warming and his conclusion that it is the oil industry that is primarily responsible (OGJ, July 7, 2008, p. 12).

Certainly, there is global warming occurring at this time as in the past, and it has melted most of the ice that covered much of North America during the past 20,000 years. But Mr. Temple’s primary blaming of the oil industry is way off base.

An article by Arthur B. Robinson, Noah E. Robinson, and Willie Soon published in the December 2007 Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons reports research that strongly rejects the theory that hydrocarbons are primarily responsible for global warming. Their research is backed by the endorsement of 31,072 American scientists.

Donald E. Hibbard
Consulting petroleum geologist
Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Cooling or warming?

I read with interest David Archibald’s letter on “Warming or cooling?” (OGJ, Aug. 11, 2008, p. 12).

There is lots of discussion about solar cycles and their apparent relation to warming (or cooling) of the earth.

It is safe to say Archibald’s findings differ from the majority of climate scientists working in this field.

His conclusions suggest the earth is actually cooling, and man-made carbon-dioxide contributions are “minuscule” to the big picture.

Hasn’t he been keeping up on current events? He surely must be aware of the retreat of almost every glacier on earth? Melting glaciers reflect long-term heating (or cooling) trends. If David’s conclusions are correct, glaciers should not be retreating.

Is he aware the permafrost is melting? That, too, would suggest evidence of a long-term trend that is counter to the findings of this article.

Is he aware the ocean levels are rising around the earth? The Alaskan coastline is being battered with rising sea levels. Low-lying Pacific islands are loosing ground to rising oceans. Again: long-term evidence that counters this letter’s conclusions.

This paper is not an objective discussion on the topic. The astute reader might conclude the Oil & Gas Journal does not want a balanced discussion. I would hope for a more objective coverage of a subject that will have profound effects on your readers and customers.

Mitch Findlay
First Energy Services
Los Angeles