Since we've had a slight rules change I thought I'd share something I found about 2 weeks ago on Google video.
BBC4 created a documentary about global warming. It is titled "The Great Global Warming Swindle."
Here's a link to it:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4499562022478442170& amp; amp;q=Global+Warming+Swindle&hl=en
Copies of the video appear and reappear on Google so, if the link doesn't work just search for it at
http://video.google.com.
The three major scientific claims as I see it in the film are:
1) That weather balloon research conducted by John Christy (Professor, Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville and Lead Author, IPCC) and others does not indicate that "greenhouse global warming" is happening. The theory of greenhouse global warming holds that the upper atmosphere would warm at the same rate as the lower atmosphere. This has not been the case. The balloon data shows no increase in the upper atmosphere.
2) Water Vapor is the largest contributor to global warming (making up 95% of greenhouse gases). Additionally, cosmic rays from outer space are what aid in cloud formation in the upper atmosphere and that periods of high solar activity increase solar winds, deflecting the cosmic rays from the Earth. Less clouds equals more of the suns energy getting to the surface combined with the increased solar output.
3) The records of temperature change and CO2 levels have not been accurately represented, and that increases in CO2 levels LAG temperature increases by about 800 years. This is further amplified by the statements of Carl Wunsch (Professor, Department of Oceanography, M.I.T.) whose research has demonstrated that the Oceans have about a 500-1000 year "memory" affect of the Earth's climate. Basically, as the temperature warms, CO2 is less easily dissolved in salt water. As temperature cools, CO2 is more readily dissolved in salt water. Additionaly, the same data that has been used to show temperature following CO2 levels (in support of man-made warming), can not explain why during the post WWII era of 1940-1975 when there was a HUGE economic boom and increase in CO2 levels, global temperatures actually went down until they started to rise again during the late 1970's.
The film also goes after the issue of just how politicized the topic has become and how hard it is for real science to be done on the matter.
The film's producer Martin Durkin has been known to produce controversial films. In 1997 he was accused of misleading interviewees and distoring the truth during the creation of a documentary "Against Nature."
This most recent film has been criticized as well. With one of the contributors denouncing it.
None-the-less... I suggest you watch it if you are interested in this stuff. It is a well formed documentary with contributions from about 20 respected Scientists, authors, and others involved in Greenpeace, Scientific Journals and organizations.
It is interesting to note that several of those that were interviewed were contributors to the UN IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Report... including one Lead Author!