Re: [asa] Creation Care

On the effects of rising sea level, examination of past and present
human responses to sea level and shoreline change suggests that a
small change in sea level will have catastrophic effects. Look at the
current situation with regard to beachfront or nearshore property.
Quite apart from global warming-induced sea level change, there are
several local or regional tectonic, etc. factors causing local
land-level changes. Likewise, sandy beaches move around, changing the
local land level. The standard response is to demand government
subsidy for ineffective stopgap measures.

On causes of geological-term climate change, plate tectonics provides
a major factor with the Milankovitch cycles superimposed on it. I
imagine there's a fair amount of uncertainly over the exact roles
played by many factors, but that doesn't affect the broad picture.
Specific influences include large bodies of water moderating the
climate; continent position affecting ocean currents and air
circulation; large mountain areas increasing erosion (which uses CO2)
and affecting air circulation; spreading rates affecting mean global
sea level; and degree of interconnection versus separation of
continents. All too slow to account for the current global warming,
but providing some of the broader context.

Smolin's set of criteria can readily apply to any number of groups you
don't like, so I am not certain they are all that useful without more
specification.

I know that Vardiman has claimed that the young-earth rejection of
geologic evidence on past climate change means you don't have to worry
about it as much. Wile denies global warming and air pollution
generally but doesn't invoke YEC as justification in his middle school
textbook.

-- 
Dr. David Campbell
425 Scientific Collections
University of Alabama
"I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"
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