Letter - Global warming science not based solely on computer models

To the editor:

A recent letter writer states that “manmade global warming is based on computer models.” Good heavens, no! It’s the weather stations at Detroit Lakes, Montevideo, Marshall and five others throughout the 7th Congressional District that clearly show a temperature rise of between 2 and 4 degrees Fahrenheit right here since 1960 (see temperaturetrends.org). These are your friends and neighbors manning these stations who have reported these temperatures. They’re not computer models. They’re real live people.

Thousands of other weather stations throughout the world have also reported temperature changes. Overall, globally, these average out to a rise of 1.4F degrees, mostly since 1960. Unfortunately, Minnesota is on the losing end of temperature roulette. And we will pay a terrible price for this in the future. You don’t need a computer model for that.

And, those Ph.D. scientists who deny global warming? Well, they’re on the payrolls directly or indirectly of the coal and oil companies. Just follow the money. Read Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and follow her research into who pays whom.

Jeanne Johnson

Alexandria, MN

Tags: opinion, letters